Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: Activatedxx on May 12, 2021, 05:59:47 PM
-
Hello, I am starting this diary as I am scheduled may 13th 2021 for lon femurs. I arrived to Istanbul on the 5th, it was long layovers and flight with some turbulence but I made it!
Originally I wanted to do tibia externals and later on do precice/stryde for femurs however they were recalled and doctor buldu only does monorails I believe so the only option is for LON and I did not want to do lon tibias as the insertion point is from the knee vs hip for femurs. I am a 23 year old male from the USA, originally Middle East born. I contacted the Dr directly, not the advertising team. Turkey was really my 4-5th choice. At first I had scheduled tibia for Russia with kulesh/solomin however I could not get approved due to COVID-19 for a visa and they were not willing to help. They didn’t contact the ministry of health affairs to get me approved under that special circumstance. Then I contacted parihar but same thing, could not get approved for a visa, parihar was willing to write the letter after I did a consultation but did not guarantee my consultation money (200$) back if it didn’t get approved and said it was a good chance it wouldn’t be and after seeing how bad the COVID situation was getting there even in the unlikely event I would get approved I didn’t think it was a good choice. Catagnis could not give me a date in the beginning of April because he said his hospital was limited for surgery because of covid, he messaged me a week before I arrived in turkey but I had to start lengthening the first half of may to be able to return to my business I had my employee take over while I am away and needed something set in stone so I had already went with dr.Buldu.
Eventually I settled for turkey 7.5cm-8cmLON Femurs, as it was still allowing tourists and had a very easy process. I had very mixed feelings about going with buldu but he was my only option for the time/schedule and opportunity I had to do this surgery so I ended up pulling the trigger, upon meeting with him it did relieve me a good amount, he seemed like a decent all around person. We did some tests and he said I was highly flexible, this is probably due to me doing wrestling and track in high school, and martial arts as I got a little older, then losing a lot of gains as I opened my business at 19 and have been working full time and have not hit the gym since. Some red flags went away definitely after meeting him, but not all. One of the things I was concerned about was some stuff didn’t really sound real in the forum, but I it was just my doubts. I’ll uploads screenshots of it but like for example
I brought 1/3 cash and planned on wiring the rest, when they did my covid test a few days before the scheduled date, and upon paying with cash at the hospital to dr buldus assistant (very tall girl named busa) I asked for a receipt but they couldn’t provide me one, so buldu ended up saying “no problem, just pay the cash amount after the surgery”. This is something completely unheard of in America. I ended up just having my wife record me counting the money and handing it to his assistant. Also I used XE.com to transfer the money and it was getting delayed and he said since it was already sent it will be fine. That is crazy to me, as in the USA doctors demand firm payment upfront even if you sent it unless it’s cleared they will not operate. My XE transfer got approved may 12 the day before my surgery. It caused me some stress because I wasn’t sure if Dr. buldu was serious about saying that and if he would actually operate without the transfer cleared or not. However I didn’t want to send it before meeting him as i am a cautious person and am not going to wire 18-19k usd ( 1/3 of my total savings) to a doctor in a foreign country I have never met.
After meeting with buldu the next day I met a heavyset 173cm patient who had surgery 8 days prior from Canada, and he really helped my nerves calm down a lot.
Once you schedule or pull the trigger it will make you rethink everything. I had nightmares once a while for the last couple months, almost every night I would think I am really doing this. Do I really need to pay all this money and go through all this suffering, just be happy with your height. However I did not change my mind about it. The day before the surgery is the worst mentally, knowing you’ll be put on anesthesia and have incision and osteotomy on your legs.
Honestly I was happy with a lot of things in my life and was blessed with a nice car, good looks, a wife beautiful inside/out however at 165-166cm my height just really bothered me. even at 173-174 you are considered on the shorter spectrum but you are not in the bottom 5th percentile, that is a height I could be comfortable at. I would be slightly short, not shorter than almost everyone I meet, and I would also be a few inches taller than my wife. Maybe down the road I would do 5-6cm tibias, but with 8cm lengthening, for me personally, it will take away 3/4 of my dysphoria. Height is just a number, a lot of the people on the forum
Are like anorexic that obsess about being a certain weight. It’s completely okay to be average, would I want to be 6ft? Yes! Can I be happy still at average height? Of course.
If I am average height whatever I lack for I make up with looks, style/clothing, driving an exotic car. I know this because before I was married I still managed to have genuine relationships with women that were very attractive at my height, I may have missed out on some or it might have been easier if I was taller but the point is, it was do-able while I was short ( I did wear 1.5 inch lifts to clarify ) and even with a couple women who were a few inches taller than me. As the saying goes man makes the clothes, clothes don’t make the man. You can still be an icon being short just like mayweather, el chapo, Napoleon, Tom hanks, Putin, Akon, Usher, the list goes on etc.
Tomorrow I will be going around noon to do some preoperative tests like xray, blood, etc. I paid 15k euros in total for the LoN package.
Here are Some tips/info
The people at the Hilton bomonti hotel and a couple other hotels treated us like royalty, they were so nice and friendly. People treat the foreigners very well here for the main part. I did not go out at night at all. Some parts look like a 2cnd work country but downtown and the main areas look very up to date although there aren’t parking lots and the infrastructure/buildings are different/built different.
People drive CRAZY here. I rented a car and wish I had got a taxi. Most of the cars are manual and I struggled a little because some of the city is very very steep and high hills. Mix that with traffic and it’s not a walk in the park.
the price goes up and down in usd. If I had done the surgery last year the price was .93 more or less for usd to euro. Now it is .82. The price for surgery was the same in euros but it raised in usd needed to get that amount of euro. The week before I came it was .85. If I had payed a week before, I would have saved slightly over 3% or about 500$ US Dollars. Same thing with doctors like giotikas that use euros. The United States Dollars value is dropping against the euro so something that is any amount in euro is getting more expensive if you live in the US.
If going shopping, once people realize you are American in certain places they will swarm you, I had literally 8-10 salesmen follow me around in the grand bazaar trying to sell me fake designer stuff, even one of them said to the other “get lost this is my customer”.
Few days before I arrived the city went on full lockdown but a few places like jewelry or clothing were still open. When on lockdown or pharamacys or restaurants are open on limited hours. I used yemeksepati to get food delivered.
If you bring cash the exchange rates at the airport are pretty bad compared to other places. You always get slightly less than the actual exchange rate, at atm or places that convert money.
I have piercings and tattoos and obviously don’t look Turkish so I kept getting stopped by police at checkpoints. Most of them were cool but one time I got stopped the guy said he smelled drugs in the car and ordered me out while he searched my rental with his group. The police here are pretty intimidating, they usually are a group of 3-4 with ak-47 or some other big gun. Usually one of them will speak English. It was definitely bias against me due to my tattoos and piercings. once he saw I had no drugs in the car he let me and my wife go but eyed us down aggressively as we left.
The food here is a lot different. It takes some getting used to, but it will have you going to the bathroom twice a day and sometimes 3 because it’s real food. The bread tasted weird as it doesn’t have sugar like America, which is actually good but it’s weird getting used to. A lot of stuff has less salt. I ordered a chocolate chip cookie from subway and it just had real cocoa chunks in it and not chocolate chips. It definitely takes a while to get used to the food.
If you’re having this procedure in another country it can feel very alienating and weird being in another country. It definitely did for me and my wife. I enjoyed some of it but I definitely miss being home a lot.
-
Activatedx, I been following you for a bit... you can afford precice right? Please reconsider! I suggest to don't try to save money, LON Femurs is torture! You still have a chance
-
Activatedx, I been following you for a bit... you can afford precice right? Please reconsider! I suggest to don't try to save money, LON Femurs is torture! You still have a chance
I could but they are recalled and unavailable and this will be my only opportunity to have surgery this year as I took off for work and let my employee take over for the summer. I was trying to do external tibia instead but none of the doctors lined up with the opportunity I had to do this. Also it would be about/more than 1/2 my savings. They are monorails so they are a lot less bulky than ilizarov femurs, I wouldn’t even consider those
-
I could but they are recalled and unavailable and this will be my only opportunity to have surgery this year as I took off for work and let my employee take over for the summer. I was trying to do external tibia instead but none of the doctors lined up with the opportunity I had to do this. Also it would be about/more than 1/2 my savings. They are monorails so they are a lot less bulky than ilizarov femurs, I wouldn’t even consider those
Shoot.. precice recalled too darn. May I suggest to consider LON tibia despite you wanting externals I know you don't want the ramming nail through knee and stuff but the truth, the incidence of knee pain really isn't all that high. I have tried to find a single diary of long term knee pain of LON here but I have yet to find one. The literature saids high % but that's not CLL, that's trauma victims so it aint comparable. Paley saids vast majority of his patients don't get knee pain, and I think if knee pain was really a much more legitimate factor there would be CAUTION SIGNS everywhere but I can't find a single LON diary or stryde/precice tibia where it saids the people are hurting 2 years after operation or permanent knee pain stuff like that. The knee is fine. Brother I am just trying to make you avoid the LON Femurs. It is potentially one of the most sick and sadistic ways to do LL and painful and I totally think you'll be amazing if you do LON tibia, then come back when Stryde 2.0 comes out and do femur and you can get to like 177cm+ :). Every diary of LON Femurs I read is just depressing and the pain and significant discomfort and no mobility from pins through major muscles is really immense. Just put your hand on your side of your thigh and kick your feet or extend and unextend. see how much darn the thigh muscles move. imagine a knife in there goddamn. every small movement is pain pain. I totally respect whatever choice you take, I am just trying to suggest. You have today to decide still and I really am pushing you to do tibia. Anyways good luck no matter what method you choose, I am being annoying here but I just don't want another brother going for LON Femurs and suffering unnecessarily. Jameshttp://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=66007.0 (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=66007.0) diary really showed the regret and agony and countless others and I pray the best outcome 4 u sir. Good luck Mr. Activatedx. In the end is totally Your choice so I am here just to make chatter for fun and suggest my opinion
Cheers
Serilium
-
Hey man, I am just chiming in to say good luck with everything. I am on. My flight now to Istanbul and my surgery will follow in a few days shortly.
I’m scared as too. The preceding days I felt great about this decision and I was ready to do anything for my surgery, but now I’m quite scared.
Hang in there! Pm me if you’d like a compatriot over the next few weeks - I’ll be at BOF CEO suites with the rest of the buldu post-ops.
How’re are you feeling now? Is everything in place for the 13th?
-
Hey man, I am just chiming in to say good luck with everything. I am on. My flight now to Istanbul and my surgery will follow in a few days shortly.
I’m scared as too. The preceding days I felt great about this decision and I was ready to do anything for my surgery, but now I’m quite scared.
Hang in there! Pm me if you’d like a compatriot over the next few weeks - I’ll be at BOF CEO suites with the rest of the buldu post-ops.
How’re are you feeling now? Is everything in place for the 13th?
Hello, I’m prepping to go to the hospital, nervous but I will update you whenever I can. I met a patient at the bof suites who had lon femur and was staying there with his dad. You should meet with him before your surgery
-
Rooting for you man. I take it your surgery is going to happen today?
-
Hello, I’m prepping to go to the hospital, nervous but I will update you whenever I can.
Good luck man. You got this 💪
-
Here are some pics from my first few days in Istanbul
https://imgur.com/gallery/8M0sshG
https://imgur.com/gallery/27HnB5O
I covered my face/tattoos
-
Rooting for you man. I take it your surgery is going to happen today?
Yeah at 2pm, it’s 7:30 am in our time
Thanks for your support
-
Good luck man. You got this 💪
Thank you for the support
-
Thank you for sharing journey
Shame P2/Styrde not available.
Dr Buldu processes many LON patients so surgery is likely to be fine.
Curious to know how post recovery lengthening goes.
All the best lads
-
Will update you soon as I possibly can, I am almost at the hospital to do my pre op tests
I am late due to having to return my rental car back, buldus assistants picked me up from the airport
-
Activatedx, I been following you for a bit... you can afford precice right? Please reconsider! I suggest to don't try to save money, LON Femurs is torture! You still have a chance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re6bXFZ_Z0g
You can't do all this with precice
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/h4jnR7I
This is a photo of the hospital lobby, very nice hospital
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re6bXFZ_Z0g
You can't do all this with precice
Are you the person in the video?
That is patient I met with
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/h4jnR7I
This is a photo of the hospital lobby, very nice hospital
Nice indeed - good luck!
-
Thank you
https://imgur.com/gallery/sUWD40Z
This is my room, Nurses came and took blood samples, changed into a hospital gown. Waiting so far
-
Sorry for the late update guys. I went through surgery around 2 and woke up at 6:45 in pretty bad pain. Kept half sleeping on and off until 1-2am due to the pain and discomfort. I can understand now when another person that did cll said it feels like getting hit by a car. I was under the impression I would be under an epidural and anesthesia but I think it is just anesthesia I don’t feel anything around my lower back and my legs have feeling.
My right leg hurt way more than my left leg for some reason, but both hurt pretty bad. This is not an easy surgery, mentally it is terrifying
The whole day seems to take forever yesterday. It is mental torture to yourself. I kept cursing myself why am I doing this, I should have just been happy with my height. When they take you to the operation room and you have 7-8 doctors around you and you know your about to have your legs broken you mind screams for you to stop. Physically it was nowhere as bad mentally, and that is not to say it wasn’t bad physically, it’s bad pain physically but way more mentally for me.
https://imgur.com/gallery/tBSJPqm
This is a picture of my fixator ^
I woke up with a catheter inside and a little blood around my penis. The nurses would not let me eat until 11 but because they were giving me pain medicine I started throwing up liquid
-
To add, my lower back and legs were hurting so I kept trying to flip on my stomach but it was very painful. Eventually I did it and it was the only way I could fall asleep
When I woke up after anesthesia I was very cold and shivering
-
Hope you get better soon. I will go through the same process in 6 months too, reading your words really humbles me already. Did you get some painkillers? Good luck!
-
Sounds ruff man :(
Surgery is now complete! :)
-
Yes I did, however they do not fully take the pain away. I can not find a comfortable spot to lay down and flipping on my stomach or back requires a lot of energy and some pain
-
It is definitely
Thank you
Imgur is removing some of the photos I posted of the fixator, not sure why
I think because it showed my thigh, here’s one of the fixator only
https://imgur.com/gallery/4q7qGgj
-
Another update guys. It’s been almost a full day since my surgery and about 80% of my pain has gone away. I feel much better. The first day was terrible, I am a lot better today with pain level maybe 2/3 out of ten when sitting still
-
Hi guys, doctor buldu and his assistant came today. They bent my knees, I can’t bend them fully but he said I did very good, then I walked about 30 steps with a walker. Walking doesn’t necessarily hurt, I just feel sore, the only part that is painful is getting up and laying back down
He said walking is very important for blood circulation, tomorrow I have my first physical therapy session and they will be taking my catheter out which I am not looking forward to
-
Surgery went well?
Did you require any muscle realises around your thigh?
Sounds as if you are laying down for the majority of the hospital stay, possible to sit at a chair etc or to much right now?
-
Surgery went well?
Did you require any muscle realises around your thigh?
Sounds as if you are laying down for the majority of the hospital stay, possible to sit at a chair etc or to much right now?
As far as I know surgery went well, what do you mean muscle realises?
I sat up with assistance and walked with a walker by myself, I can full weight bear without the walker but can’t really take steps without the walker. I do physical therapy tomorrow but for the most part I am lying down on my stomach or back. I could manage to sit up in a chair but would require effort and don’t have a reason to
-
Ok, I meant a IT band release?
-
Ok, I meant a IT band release?
Yes he did IT band release
-
Yes he did IT band release
Is IT band release always necessary in femur lengthening?
-
Is IT band release always necessary in femur lengthening?
Depending on the amount, however I’ve read there aren’t any negative consequences really, ATL for tibia release has not but not the IT
-
Quick update, the pain medicine they give me has been making dizzy/nauseous so this morning I asked them to stop giving me it, I am in some manageable pain since I am off of it now
I woke up with some moderate knee pain in my left knee, hoping it goes away on its own
-
Stay strong, youre doing something 99% of people would never dare, no pain no gain
-
^ no pain no gain. the suffering inevitable. it's temporarily. you come out on the other side... 3 inches taller... permanently.
-
Really appreciate the support
Today was a long day, the nurse gave me a painful shot in my right thigh near the break, not sure for what. I’ve got about two shots before those in my tricep that weren’t that painful.
About an hour ago they took out my catheter, it was a very bad feeling but not necessarily painful, just a super uncomfortable sensation for 1-2 seconds. After they took it out the doctors assistants changed my bandages and cleaned the wounds with antibacterial which stung a decent amount.
The physical therapist then came and did some exercises, they weren’t bad and were moderately easy to do with just minor pain/discomfort. Then I walked again. This time it was a lot more stiff since I am off pain meds. I stood up for a good two minutes without assistance which felt good, it’s a start. The assistants washed my face and upper body with damp towel. Now I am back in bed again
-
Hey man, I saw your walking video a few hours after I work from anesthesia. That’s excellent man, really proud of you! I have no idea how I’m going to do it tomorrow but you gave me a ton of hope. You’re super strong, mentally and physically. Now you will have a body to match your strength!
-
Hey man, I saw your walking video a few hours after I work from anesthesia. That’s excellent man, really proud of you! I have no idea how I’m going to do it tomorrow but you gave me a ton of hope. You’re super strong, mentally and physically. Now you will have a body to match your strength!
Thanks my friend, the first day was pretty bad but the morning of the next day you should feel way better. It shouldn’t be difficult for you at all
-
Quick update, I had a pretty bad night yesterday, I woke up around two am and could not sleep. I was really uncomfortable. I haven’t showered in days, I feel the need to have a bowel movement but can’t, my legs ache, not painfully but very annoyingly, I haven’t brushed my teeth. I tried flip over slowly and twisted something the wrong way and it was very painful.
Eventually I succumbed and asked for pain medicine even though it makes me nauseous. First I had them let me brush in my bed with a water bottle, cup, and a toothbrush. I went to the bathroom and had the nurse sit me down on the toilet seat but it was pretty painful so I couldn’t. I ended up peeing in a urine bottle and standing up and putting my elbows on my walker and trying to go number two while standing up. This method would work but I am constipated from the anesthesia. Eventually I quit went back to my bed with the nurses help, I ate some leftover rice and bread and took the pain medicine and went to sleep around 4:30am. I had a good sleep but woke up pretty early around 10am. I had some help and used the walker to urinate in the restroom with a pee cup and tried again to go number 2 but it wouldn’t come all the way. My stomach does hurt a little bit but hopefully by today or tomorrow I can relieve my self. After I was done they had just started changing my sheets. I was standing in place for a good 7-8 minutes and started getting very tired and dizzy, I could barely walk back with the walker to my bed. About 30 min after that the doctor and his assistants came and I walked again with them, knee bending was very good they said, past 100 degrees when sitting up in chair position with legs hanging off the bed. They left and I should have PT in about an hour
On another note, my abs are super sore. I have to use them for a lot of things I do now like sitting up, these past few days have been terrible mentally but I’m keeping my head up with the possibility I will be released tomorrow
-
Another update, today I was able to stand up for about 30 minutes while leaning on my walker/sink
I wash able to clean myself with shampoo/soap and clean my face body and armpits/privates, my wife helped with my back and legs only. I also trimmed my sideburns and cheeks. This improved time could be because I took pain medicine about 4 hours prior. It feels great to be cleanish again, I smelled like a farm animal
Here are some pictures of my knee bending
https://imgur.com/gallery/VoWkBiL
The hospital bed is a little high up but I can do a little more than that on a lower surface
Hopefully imgur doesn’t take them down, they have taken a lot of posts showing my fixator for some reason
I was able to get up without assistance and stand up to my walker by using the posts on the bed for support
I took a number two and it was amazing relief. It was literally amazing
I had to have help sit on the toilet, it hurt a little sitting down so I had to put my palm on the front of the toilet and take some of the weight off my thighs
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/j2gRcw1
Can anyone tell me what degrees they think this is?
This is my knee bending maximum while laying down
If I do anymore it hurts/discomfort
-
Wow man I pray for u 🙏🏻
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/j2gRcw1
Can anyone tell me what degrees they think this is?
This is my knee bending maximum while laying down
If I do anymore it hurts/discomfort
very good. 100 - 110 degree
-
Thank you my friend
-
Another update, before I went to sleep one of the assistants visited me with a prescription and instructions for about 8-9 medicines when I get discharged. I went to sleep and woke up in the middle of the night, I was able to manage to get up and use a walker to my restroom. When I woke up I had bowel pain/irritation and this time I didn’t want to sit down on the toilet as I have alot pain when getting off of it, so needless to say I to a dump standing up while leaning forward my upper body and placing my elbows on the walker. It worked out pretty well and landed where it needed except that it took me about 20 minutes to clean my behind. Sorry for the nasty details but I want to be transparent with my experience.
When I got up I had felt some stiffness and slight pain but after walking and standing for a good amount of time it went away, most likely due to blood circulation.
I do not take the pain medicine often as it makes me dizzy. I stay away from it unless I cannot sleep due to nonpainful but annoying aches. I did not take any today however after I finished I had the nurse administer some so I can sleep now
-
Glad to see you’re mobile and able to help yourself to the bathroom man. It’s day 2(?) for me and I’m wildly depressed at my situation and decision to do this stupid surgery. I hope this regret is temporary.
I have a question - how much does your wife assist you with mobility and exercises? I’m worried I’m not using my legs enough
-
Another update, before I went to sleep one of the assistants visited me with a prescription and instructions for about 8-9 medicines when I get discharged. I went to sleep and woke up in the middle of the night, I was able to manage to get up and use a walker to my restroom. When I woke up I had bowel pain/irritation and this time I didn’t want to sit down on the toilet as I have alot pain when getting off of it, so needless to say I to a dump standing up while leaning forward my upper body and placing my elbows on the walker. It worked out pretty well and landed where it needed except that it took me about 20 minutes to clean my behind. Sorry for the nasty details but I want to be transparent with my experience.
When I got up I had felt some stiffness and slight pain but after walking and standing for a good amount of time it went away, most likely due to blood circulation.
I do not take the pain medicine often as it makes me dizzy. I stay away from it unless I cannot sleep due to nonpainful but annoying aches. I did not take any today however after I finished I had the nurse administer some so I can sleep now
The details are important. Thank you for sharing.
-
Glad to see you’re mobile and able to help yourself to the bathroom man. It’s day 2(?) for me and I’m wildly depressed at my situation and decision to do this stupid surgery. I hope this regret is temporary.
I have a question - how much does your wife assist you with mobility and exercises? I’m worried I’m not using my legs enough
Should be temporary- the shock surgery
- Reaction to the meds
- laying down as a veg
- Boredom
Hopefully once you are discharged and amongst other LL you will be more at ease.
Best.
-
Glad to see you’re mobile and able to help yourself to the bathroom man. It’s day 2(?) for me and I’m wildly depressed at my situation and decision to do this stupid surgery. I hope this regret is temporary.
I have a question - how much does your wife assist you with mobility and exercises? I’m worried I’m not using my legs enough
Trust me I was exactly the same, the days go by so slow. Ive only been here literally four days and I could swear it feels like I’ve been here for at least 2 weeks. It’s terrible but you’re halfway their and every day you will feel better. My wife doesn’t really help with exercises or anything except helping stand up and sit down the first few days. Today I actually got up and sat down myself.
When I woke up I had very irritated bowel. I only had my wife help me sit on the toilet, there bidets remind me of my house very helpful. Do not take any laxative or softener trust me, I’ve had 3 bowel movements in the past 24 hours soft stool. I was able to get off the toilet by myself without much pain which is huge improvement because yesterday I had 7-8/10 pain getting off even with my wife helping me. If your recovery isn’t great the first few days it shouldn’t matter after the first week you should still be making fine progress. It could just be an age thing, try to walk when you can because it helps blood circulation
I get discharged today at 4pm, I was hoping to around 1-2pm but at least it’s today. Really happy about that. I’m only 4 days post op and recovering pretty quickly hopefully I won’t run into any obstacles god willing. It’s gonna take a lot of patience to finish this up.
My biggest complaint now is actually that every time I make a bowel movement it relieves me a lot but after laying down for a little I get some of that feeling again that I need to go. I went under an hour ago and now I feel the need to go again
I’m just counting down the hours till I can finally leave
-
Trust me I was exactly the same...
I don’t know how I’m going to survive this man. Your wife was right, this is insanity. I thought it would be ok but once anesthesia wore off it was beyond my wildest nightmare.
But you survived, so hopefully I will too. Are you able to bend your knee on your own, or lift your leg? I don’t even know which muscle I need to control to do that. I’m worried that moving my leg will just bring back intense pain.
Congrats! It’s only 1-2 hours after your original plans, at least it’s not midnight 🙂 do you still think you will do 7.5cm?
-
I don’t know how I’m going to survive this man. Your wife was right, this is insanity. I thought it would be ok but once anesthesia wore off it was beyond my wildest nightmare.
But you survived, so hopefully I will too. Are you able to bend your knee on your own, or lift your leg? I don’t even know which muscle I need to control to do that. I’m worried that moving my leg will just bring back intense pain.
Congrats! It’s only 1-2 hours after your original plans, at least it’s not midnight 🙂 do you still think you will do 7.5cm?
You really should have brought someone, it makes it so much easier mentally. I couldn’t imagine doing it without a spouse/family member. I’m able to do all those things, but it wasn’t easy the first 2-3 days. It gets better day by day. The guy just changed my bandages. He said he’s coming to your room next. I had another bowel movement, my 4th one since yesterday noon. I plan on doing that if my body allows me, hopefully. Keep in mind your legs are super swollen so you can’t use some muscles or to a certain degree. As the swelling wears off, my physical therapist said you regain some control of them. I’m praying for your recovery, I think you’ll be just fine after the first week
Update* I was able to walk some steps without the walker, however it looks like a penguin walk. But I guess it’s something
-
Penguin walk! Hell yeah man, that’s awesome!! My pain wore off and I had the guys come and help me walk a little. I guess they just left your room. Bending my knee is not happening yet :( but I can walk a lot more comfortably than yesterday. A lot of knee pain if they don’t move my legs correctly. My legs are also stupendously swollen. Not sure what I did for that to happen.
Yeah I never knew how direly I needed somebody by my side throughout this event. I thought it was something i could sneak out and do discretely over a two months. No fking way. I needed everybody here.
Day by day you seem to be getting way healthier. I’m so happy to hear you’re doing well. This gave me a lot of hope. Only two more days of hell for me and hopefully I’ll be able to walk a little too.
-
Penguin walk! Hell yeah man, that’s awesome!! My pain wore off and I had the guys come and help me walk a little. I guess they just left your room. Bending my knee is not happening yet :( but I can walk a lot more comfortably than yesterday. A lot of knee pain if they don’t move my legs correctly. My legs are also stupendously swollen. Not sure what I did for that to happen.
Yeah I never knew how direly I needed somebody by my side throughout this event. I thought it was something i could sneak out and do discretely over a two months. No fking way. I needed everybody here.
Day by day you seem to be getting way healthier. I’m so happy to hear you’re doing well. This gave me a lot of hope. Only two more days of hell for me and hopefully I’ll be able to walk a little too.
That weird, everybody reacts different but I was able to bend my knee significantly shortly after waking up from surgery. It did get better in the coming days, first week in s definitely hardest. Mentally it sets you up to be able to handle almost anything after that I think.
Edit* another freaking bowel movement, this is ridiculous
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/WCeZuur
Here’s a walking video. I can walk faster but I’m focusing on form. My physical therapist told me to make sure every step you put your heel down first, so I don’t develop ballerina
Had my personal walker delivered to my room. Paid about 30 bucks and happy to call it mine because the nurses only give me that one when I need it
-
Bend those knees a little more :) that’s awesome. I can only step forward tippy toe right now. It’s pretty hard but you make it look easy!
-
Yeah when I walk I have to work on my posture and knee bending so I don’t develop a bad habit or a bad gait, my first times walking I was tippy toeing also, I hope after my swelling is gone my gait will be better
https://imgur.com/gallery/YblYihL
I am packing to leave, I made makeshift pants out of my old jeans , they are revealing of the sides of my thighs but cover my privates. I am genuinely smiling for the first time since coming in this hospital, because I am leaving. But I have a very long and uncertain way ahead of me.
Please pray for my recovery
-
Leaving the hospital felt like leaving jail. Mentally it was amazing just to see daylight. I was loaded in nice Mercedes van with a wheelchair. The wheelchair barely fit with the frames and I had to sit in an awkward position which caused small pain but i thugged it out. I was just happy to be leaving, the bumps on the trip also caused 2 or 3/10 pain, but I didn’t even care. When I got to the hotel it was decent. Not 5 stars as advertised but a solid 3.5. Again, I didn’t care. I plopped on the bed as carefully as I could. After drinking water only for a week, I cracked a Red Bull and it tasted like crack, and enjoyed the view outside my window. I had a long way ahead. I had only ate breakfast at the hospital and was very hungry I was no longer the hospitals responsibility to feed and take care of, will probably use food delivery app to get food now, will probably stay up all night from red Bull.I needed a wheelchair big enough to hold the fixator to be able to go out in public, the wheelchair the hotel let me borrow doesn’t fit my frames touch the wheel. I needed to go to pharmacy and get my pain meds and prescriptions, to be able to sleep because of the annoying non painful aches in my legs at night. I needed to get Turkish lira out of an atm as I used the amount I had. I needed pads for my wife that just started her time of the month. Not to mention everything is closing soon. I needed a ton of $ h 1 t that I probably won’t get until tomorrow. But I didn’t even care, I was just enjoying the moment. Truly we are ungrateful. This is a life altering experience for me. I don’t think I’ll ever be ungrateful again. I have a lot going on right now, but whatever it is it could be worse, I could still be in the hospital. It’s the little things that are so so precious
https://imgur.com/gallery/wgHncH2
Edit* my parade was shortlived in a way. I had to go to the restroom and the toilet was too close to the wall to allow my frames to sit and use the bidet. I ended up going standing up, which in turn splashed water on my legs from this toilet (different from hospital one which didn’t) and got my pants wet. I spent about 30 minutes cleaning myself. My legs are done for the day. I spent about 80% of my energy and time standing up on the restroom.
It’s really P* ing me off like crazy. I don’t know if it’s the medicine, or the hospital food, or anesthesia or what. Every time I go it’s barely solid. And takes forever to clean. But I’ve had 7 bowel movements in the last 31 hours. And I still have to go again. After I finished and layed down, I got that warm irritated feeling in my stomach. I’m still happy to be out the hospital, but besides the pain mental and physical, and being in the hospital I think pooping is the next worse thing since I had my surgery
-
“A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one.”
-
Dude I can relate to this 1000% right now
Quick update, my wife was able to call a taxi and pay with my debit card to get her feminine stuff. However when she tried to get food it had locked due to fraud and sent a approve/deny text to my USA number which I don’t have. Eventually I was able to order papa Johns to the hotel and just have my wife pay the hotel clerk ten bucks and he paid the guy in lira for me. Felt great to eat after 12 hours of an empty stomach, but then 30 minutes later I have to use the restroom. My legs are done for the day. I don’t care if I soil the bed , I am not getting up they are overused plus I have not taken medicine for about 24 hours so I am definitely feeling them, any movement causes 3-5 out of 10 pain. I need to let them rest. Still haven’t got my meds. Trying to find a pharmacy that is 24 hours but I don’t think they will let my wife pick up meds for me. I physically cannot go without a wheelchair, I definitely taxed my legs today. Will try to go in morning. Definitely need some medicine to make me stop having to go restroom. It is my biggest complaint now
-
Sweet, sweet freedom 🥳 congrats man
-
Quick update
Last night I ended up having the dr assistant drop off the medicine, 9 different ones, but one was a very heavy narcotic and they wouldn’t give it with just a prescription, needed a doctors note. 3 out of the 8 were painkillers and 1 of them was vitamin D.
I got it around midnight, and it was GREAT. There was a downside at first, I have to inject a half inch needle into my stomach area everyday (same as insulin shot style) for first ten days but surprisingly it didn’t hurt at all. At first I was pissed because I was so happy to get discharged and not have different 3 ivs in my body. It’s a anticoagulant/bloodthinner. Then after everything was figured out I took this painkiller that made me feel like I was floating on clouds, it was awesome and I slept really good except my heels get really irritated when sleeping on my back because the dig into the bed and cause extreme discomfort after 1-2 hours. So I would wake up just for that but I still slept awesome. I woke up morning and had a bowel movement and after that I feel awesome. No more irritated bowel.
I still need a wheelchair that fits the frames, I’m gonna have my wife go get one for me in a taxi.
IMGUR keeps taking off like half my posts
https://imgur.com/gallery/GYbM6yH
Keeps saying this^
Tried showing my medicines and how I injected my stomach and my bruising behind my knees is all black. Had some random bruising in inner thigh left side only that isn’t anywhere near the incisions. Idk why. But imgur just keeps saying post violates blah blah blah.
Today is day 5, and I still have ALOT of difficulties and a long way to go, but today it seems things that took tremendous effort 1-2 days ago now only take moderate effort, which is great. Flipping over sometime would have 6-7/10 pain, now half that. I’m actually planning on going out in public today for a couple hours in a taxi and having my wife wheel me around. I’m gonna try to find some super large sweatpants to cover the frames.
I still miss home, still not fully happy but I’m very grateful for today, the times going way faster, and it is way better than being in a hospital bed immobile and in pain for 100 hours.
You guys can’t understand it unless you’ve been through it. That’s the same time it takes to drive from New York to California and back to New York and back to California. It’s a really f ing long time.
My legs are still pretty swollen but going down. Yesterday it looks like they got gang bangd by bees. When laying down and lifting my knees up I feel a slightly painful soreness in the swollen area above my knee 2-3 inches.
All in all I’m really praying my recovery keeps getting better and better. I’m gonna try to wash myself now since I can’t take showers. It’s been a few days since I did it with wash clothes but surprisingly I smell good still.
I want to be transparent about all my experience but I might stop including things that take up to much text like “I had small pain getting up” and just post the main important stuff. Anything that doesn’t cause 5/10 pain or more I won’t include anymore. Just assume I have small pain that doesn’t matter too much and aches and soreness here and there
-
Sweet, sweet freedom 🥳 congrats man
You’ll have that too soon man, just another day is all that’s left
-
By the way I forgot to post my X-rays
Here they are https://imgur.com/gallery/0OAMjDW
These are from the day after surgery I believe. They took them while I was on the hospital bed and placed some square hard thing behind my legs, so that might be why they look really bright
-
Nice 🅱️🅰️lls
-
Nice 🅱️🅰️lls
Crap forgot to cover that ;D
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/41bmA8v
Today was a crazy day. got a really nice very adjustable wide wheelchair for 200$ usd and went all around Istanbul to different shops and stuff with my wife wheeling me around. People did stare pretty hard at us, it was a little uncomfortable at first but after a little while I didn’t care anymore and enjoyed the day. Getting in and out of taxis and the bumps on the road, and while being wheeled I probably had 1-4/10 pain throughout that time but it was still and enjoyable day. Bought some cool things However at the end we got dropped off nearby the hotel at a market a few hundred feet away. It started raining and my wife ran and wheeled me back to hotel, almost slid off the wheelchair at one point from a bump, was terrifying. But we made it back however my bandages got slight moisture on some small parts which is pretty bad, the bandage nurse told me make sure you get no water on it. I cleaned it. Hopefully it doesn’t lead to an infection, I cleaned around it. Looking SO forward to the day I remove them frames, they’re so inconvenient/impractical and heavy.
I still need really baggy uncut sweatpants when going out in public, to cover my frames, people would probably stare way less too. These ripped jeans make me look like a 3 dollar $ 3 X worker.
Still tired of 1-3/10 constant pain and aches, missing home a lot, and have a long and uncertain way to go, but very grateful that my days have some enjoyment. At day 5 I was able to go out in public and shop, with someone wheeling me around. If someone told me this day 2 or 3 of recovery I would have called Bs.
Really hoping in another week I’ll heal more and won’t have as much small discomfort and pain getting in and out taxis, etc. but it’s still not bad now.
Soon I will take my stomach needle medicine, and other medicines, and go sleep. Really miss being able to sleep in different positions so much. I can only sleep on my back, and after 30 minutes my heels sink into the bed and get painful/irritated. Even putting a pillow on them, or behind my knees. Sleeping on my stomach hurts my lower back a lot after a little with these frames.
Edit* my wife helps me get in and out cars, does physical therapy with me, is basically a caretaker
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/41bmA8v
Today was a crazy day. got a really nice very adjustable wide wheelchair for 200$ usd and went all around Istanbul to different shops and stuff with my wife wheeling me around. People did stare pretty hard at us, it was a little uncomfortable at first but after a little while I didn’t care anymore and enjoyed the day. Getting in and out of taxis and the bumps on the road, and while being wheeled I probably had 1-4/10 pain throughout that time but it was still and enjoyable day. Bought some cool things However at the end we got dropped off nearby the hotel at a market a few hundred feet away. It started raining and my wife ran and wheeled me back to hotel, almost slid off the wheelchair at one point from a bump, was terrifying. But we made it back however my bandages got slight moisture on some small parts which is pretty bad, the bandage nurse told me make sure you get no water on it. I cleaned it. Hopefully it doesn’t lead to an infection, I cleaned around it. Looking SO forward to the day I remove them frames, they’re so inconvenient/impractical and heavy.
I still need really baggy uncut sweatpants when going out in public, to cover my frames, people would probably stare way less too. These ripped jeans make me look like a 3 dollar $ 3 X worker.
Still tired of 1-3/10 constant pain and aches, missing home a lot, and have a long and uncertain way to go, but very grateful that my days have some enjoyment. At day 5 I was able to go out in public and shop, with someone wheeling me around. If someone told me this day 2 or 3 of recovery I would have called Bs.
Really hoping in another week I’ll heal more and won’t have as much small discomfort and pain getting in and out taxis, etc. but it’s still not bad now.
Soon I will take my stomach needle medicine, and other medicines, and go sleep. Really miss being able to sleep in different positions so much. I can only sleep on my back, and after 30 minutes my heels sink into the bed and get painful/irritated. Even putting a pillow on them, or behind my knees. Sleeping on my stomach hurts my lower back a lot after a little with these frames.
Edit* my wife helps me get in and out cars, does physical therapy with me, is basically a caretaker
i) Did you get all your medicine from the Dr at the hospital, and are the medicines included in your surgery cost?
ii) What does the stomach needle medicine do?
Good luck.
-
i) Did you get all your medicine from the Dr at the hospital, and are the medicines included in your surgery cost?
ii) What does the stomach needle medicine do?
Good luck.
Over here someone else can get your prescription, which is pretty crazy coming from America. They just need your paper from the doctor. They picked them up from me after getting discharged, but I had to pay for them, was only like 50 bucks for all, which is great in America one prescription is that price out of pocket
I can’t post on imgur because it deletes them for post violation, but my stomach needle (doesn’t really hurt much to be honest, same pain as arm) is for blood thinning/ anticoagulant, it’s called oksepor I think.
-
Really appreciate the support
Today was a long day, the nurse gave me a painful shot in my right thigh near the break, not sure for what. I’ve got about two shots before those in my tricep that weren’t that painful.
About an hour ago they took out my catheter, it was a very bad feeling but not necessarily painful, just a super uncomfortable sensation for 1-2 seconds. After they took it out the doctors assistants changed my bandages and cleaned the wounds with antibacterial which stung a decent amount.
The physical therapist then came and did some exercises, they weren’t bad and were moderately easy to do with just minor pain/discomfort. Then I walked again. This time it was a lot more stiff since I am off pain meds. I stood up for a good two minutes without assistance which felt good, it’s a start. The assistants washed my face and upper body with damp towel. Now I am back in bed again
Is it a must to have Catheter? It is so painful by looking how it was done.
-
Is it a must to have Catheter? It is so painful by looking how it was done.
I believe so, I didn’t feel them put it because I was already under anesthesia. Taking it out isn’t painful but feels very bad for 2 seconds
-
Update, today the physical therapist came. This session was a bit more intense, only slightly painful and uncomfortable 3.5/10 maybe not bad, but it was tiring. This time I did way more exercises. After that I went out the full day for about 5-6 hours. It made the day go by really fast.
https://imgur.com/gallery/WQnlG6q
I went to palladium avm with my wife, really nice mall. I learned to cover my lap with a jacket so people don’t stare at my legs or fixators, works well, taxi driver actually thought the fixator was a piece/part on my wheelchair, the human eye isn’t perceptive of things it’s not looking for
-
Day 7 post op
Today I walked about 30 steps unaided. In the morning I don’t feel much pain and discomfort. Maybe 2.5/10 when walking. I have random slight pains in random areas at random times when doing tasks like going to pee or getting in my wheelchair to go out.
https://imgur.com/gallery/AqPunFz
Walking video
Today is also my first day lengthening. Completed 1MM today. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this for another 2 1/2 months. These frames make me want to pull my hair out sometimes. By sometimes I mean a majority of the time.
I will be updating weekly instead of daily now. I am still sore in different areas, and some areas are slightly painful. My physical therapist said this is due to swelling and stays for about 2 weeks after surgery and after the 2cnd week it is a lot of improvement with no swelling present.
Lengthening video
https://imgur.com/gallery/NVORbH6
Went to palladium avm and emaar avm. Extremely nice shopping mall, was out for 6-7 hours today getting wheeled around. At the end of the day my legs are usually more sore/painful by a moderate amount then the morning. Even if I wasn’t to lengthen or move at all. It just seems that first couple hours you wake up is the sweet spot
-
Keep up the great work brother, rooting for you!
-
Keep up the great work brother, rooting for you!
Thanks my friend
-
Day 7 post op
Today I walked about 30 steps unaided. In the morning I don’t feel much pain and discomfort. Maybe 2.5/10 when walking. I have random slight pains in random areas at random times when doing tasks like going to pee or getting in my wheelchair to go out.
https://imgur.com/gallery/AqPunFz
Walking video
Today is also my first day lengthening. Completed 1MM today. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this for another 2 1/2 months. These frames make me want to pull my hair out sometimes. By sometimes I mean a majority of the time.
I will be updating weekly instead of daily now. I am still sore in different areas, and some areas are slightly painful. My physical therapist said this is due to swelling and stays for about 2 weeks after surgery and after the 2cnd week it is a lot of improvement with no swelling present.
Lengthening video
https://imgur.com/gallery/NVORbH6
Went to palladium avm and emaar avm. Extremely nice shopping mall, was out for 6-7 hours today getting wheeled around. At the end of the day my legs are usually more sore/painful by a moderate amount then the morning. Even if I wasn’t to lengthen or move at all. It just seems that first couple hours you wake up is the sweet spot
Could you please ask your Doctor next time if he does tibia lengthening 4 cm with circular externals fixator without internal nails?
-
hi man congrats. few questions. so how much es your surgery? how many days in hospita after surgery and how long is lenghthening? i would recomend you stop at 6.5 as other said after is ballerina and duck gets worse. After surgery when you started doing some walking and isnt risk of bending or bone movement as the monorail is strong enough ?? pin infection ?
-
Could you please ask your Doctor next time if he does tibia lengthening 4 cm with circular externals fixator without internal nails?
He doesn’t, he only uses monorails and if no nails are used it’s risky due to misalignment
-
hi man congrats. few questions. so how much es your surgery? how many days in hospita after surgery and how long is lenghthening? i would recomend you stop at 6.5 as other said after is ballerina and duck gets worse. After surgery when you started doing some walking and isnt risk of bending or bone movement as the monorail is strong enough ?? pin infection ?
Hi, I paid 15k euros. I stayed 4 days in the hospital. I would like to do 8cm if my body allows it but if there is trouble I would settle for less. Doctor said walking is okay, I’m light and they are full weight bearing
-
Did you take the livelifetaller package of 20K Euro?
That includes Operation, 90 days hotel stay with Breakfast, PT and XRAYS
-
Did you take the livelifetaller package of 20K Euro?
That includes Operation, 90 days hotel stay with Breakfast, PT and XRAYS
No, I didn’t
-
with monorail how much time for 7cm ? and consolidation you have to keep the monorail or because is less invasive you dont need ?
-
with monorail how much time for 7cm ? and consolidation you have to keep the monorail or because is less invasive you dont need ?
Average 60-75 days then you can take off fixator for consolidation.
-
so you onlyhave the fixator for 60 days until you get the 7cm, then off? and you can move and walk with the fixator while lenghthening? i dont get it but it seems way better than other choices. even price is so fine
-
so you onlyhave the fixator for 60 days until you get the 7cm, then off? and you can move and walk with the fixator while lenghthening? i dont get it but it seems way better than other choices. even price is so fine
60-70 days.
Fixator is very uncomfortable, very hard to sleep with, and causes extra pains/discomfort. Especially the first week is very painful and hard. Not easy to have fixator for 2 months, very hard to adjust to especially sleeping
-
so you been 10 days is still now very painfull ? are you in the hospital ? are they giving you painkillers and fisio ?i dont understand why all say its so painful, is safer tha having only a nail for sustain and has less pins that lizarov
-
so you been 10 days is still now very painfull ? are you in the hospital ? are they giving you painkillers and fisio ?i dont understand why all say its so painful, is safer tha having only a nail for sustain and has less pins that lizarov
First 4 very painful, day 4-7 not very painful but painful, but Very painful when sitting on toilet. Day 7-10 not painful except for nerve pain one day had for 12 hours straight shooting pain from top of leg to bottom of foot every 5-10 second
Even when not painful, still very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Hard to sleep, cannot shower only with wet wash towel, very tired of laying on my back all day or sitting up which slightly hurts after a while, cannot get in comfortable position and muscles/knees/feet ache sometimes.
When laying down and sitting fixator always digs into the bed or chair https://imgur.com/gallery/uAiKsBE like this
-
Trying to explain how much these fixators hurt/uncomfortable is like trying to explain to a girl what getting punched in the nuts feel like, I’ll do my best but I doubt I’ll be able to get it on the dot.
Day 8: experienced a bad nerve pain prior night that lasted 8-9 hours in my right leg only. Shooting pain, would come and go every 5-10 seconds, sometimes 4/10 pain, sometimes higher 7.5/10 and would make me stutter while talking due to pain. Very relieved when went away, afraid of it coming back. May be due to my first days of lengthening, I was turning the key every 3 1/2 hours, doctor told me should be every 5-6 hours. My mistake.
Update: nerve pain came back for a few hours again. Went away on its own, staying off my feet for the day.
Doctor assistant did my bandages that were on the pins, but left the other stitches open like on my hip. I guess they don’t need it anymore, only the fixator pins going in my femur were rebandaged. My left leg is stiff and is bending a lot less compared to prior day, but feels much better than the right.
Ended up getting really baggy sweatpants to wear that completely cover my frames except the top part bulges in them, will start wearing instead of my cutout jeans. A lot more presentable and completely covers frames
Day 9: woke up with no nerve pain thankfully, but with an extremely annoying slightly painful throbbing/ache near the top part of thigh pin site on my right leg that has been going on all day. Very mentally tiring dealing with 2.5/10 pain all day no stop. Seems like my right leg is having all the pains these last couple days.
Left left still stiff when bending but feels fine.
Did physical therapy today, not hard but tiring and slightly painful. Left top pinsite very itchy, most likely healing
Day 10: right leg top near pinsite is pretty sore and painful when walking or moving around like to sit up. Knees ache. Forgot to take my medicines last night. Fell asleep early. There is a weekend curfew so I have been home since Thursday. Pretty boring, but making the best of it. Ordered Starbucks and sat in the balcony in the sun for an hour, felt nice to just be outside the hotel room. Outside across the street appears to be a fenced homeless camp. Made me feel bad for spending this money in vain to suffer all because I let society define me, but at the same time I’m paying for my happiness/clear conscience. Still couldn’t get it off my mind after staring at people here that are barely eating (5 people gathered around sharing one pot of food) drying there clothes on the fence, sleeping in the cold (it gets really cold at night) and here I am unsatisfied with my life.
Day 11: kind of irrelevant but since my near 3 weeks in turkey I have not seen any obese person and only one fat person. Knees are stiff and slightly painful when I massage them, this is a result of laying down mostly this whole weekend I think. When I am out in my wheelchair in sitting position I feel like this combats some of the discomforts I think my body developed from laying down. At the moment I’m not in pain, however I’m uncomfortable. I use a pillow when sitting down/in a wheelchair so the extra sitting height helps to not let my frames dig in to the seat and cause pain/discomfort
Key note: just because discomfort is not pain it is still a big issue. For example being freezing cold after my anesthesia wasn’t painful but i would have rather been in pain than that. At the moment I would trade my discomfort for some pain. It just seems throughout the day I can never be at rest without something bothering me and it is mentally taxing, especially since I have a long way to go that makes it even harder. Imagine getting bit by an ant, not painful at all really, but getting bit every 10 seconds nonstop and you will want to burn your house down.
Today everything reopened so I am at the mall again, I don’t really care where I go as long as I am out the hotel room. Also it helps my knees a lot, I experience other slight pains being in the wheelchair but at the end of the day it helps my knee aching and pain so much. Laying down all day causes more problems.
I increase my lengthening to 1.25mm from 1MM, Dr. Buldu says if you are younger you body is likely to handle it. Originally I was really against this idea before surgery but at this point if it will not affect my health I am willing to do it to get out of these frames earlier. At the moment my right thigh top pinsite is hurting considerably when standing up and sitting. These are gonna be a very very very long two months.
I understand so much now why Android ( diary that cross lengthened femur in Russia who had a bad complication) increased his rate of lengthening to 1.5mm even though it’s very unadvisable. At some points you don’t even care about the money pain etc you just want to say F it and take the frames off, mentally it’s so tempting to increase your lengthening rate to get them off quicker, I will have stick to 1.25 but I understand androids journey so much now
Will update next Monday
-
Thank you for posting.
-
Thank you for posting.
Thanks for following!
-
I said I was going to update only weekly, but if my notes are long it may be twice weekly
Day 12: feeling much better, when resting or moving I don’t have much complaints. The top right pinsite has healed from being sore and pretty painful which is great. Knees still slightly stiff/ache from laying down too much. Left leg bending almost like right knee bending, it was very hard to bend a couple days ago but got much better.
Did physical therapy yesterday, sessions getting harder because physical therapist increasing intensity slowly with each session, but still fairly easy.
I am basically independent at this point although slow, but if I didn’t have my wife I could use restroom and wash by myself, answer door for food delivery, get in / out my wheelchair by myself. Still hard to get a good nights rest and about every hour I’ll get 1-3 minutes of nerve pain but besides that I’m okay. Went to emaar avm mall again and it was dreadfully boring, it’s like my 5th time there, but my wife wanted something there she saw last time and forced me to go.
Day 13: small quiet clicking sound when I bend my right knee when walking unassisted, non painful. Thinking it’s the bone clicking everyone talks about, not painful but just sounds cringy, like chewing cartilage. Learning to ignore it. Legs no longer swollen. Biggest complaint is there is pain to the bone left of my private, that inner fold there, when walking unassisted. Only left side, Always been there but figured it would be gone by now. Only there when putting a lot of weight on that leg when walking without a walker. 3/10 maybe, not a big deal. Had bandages changed today, stung but no infections so far. Currently looking for small ways to cheat the discomfort, such as sleeping backwards with my feet pushing against the headpost so I can fall asleep with my knees bent. I’m even tempted to cut out a piece of the mattress to fit my fixator in sideways so I can sleep sideways since it doesn’t hurt rolling over/putting weight on it anymore, but probably won’t take it that far. Hey, resourcefulness is 1/4 of the battle.
Update* pain in right thigh top pinsite came at midnight. Feel a heartbeat in the area by pin and a 6/10 pain when putting pressure like sitting up/walking. Hoping it’ll be better tomorrow morning after I get some rest
Day 14: I’m a week into lengthening now, should be 1/3 of an inch taller now lol, can’t tell, except I was 1cm taller than my wife and now it seems like I have about an inch. most people don’t notice considerable difference till 2’ . Pain got somewhat better but still hurts near right leg top pinsite considerably when sitting and standing up/down, and pain starting near top left pinsite now. Pinsite pain seems to go into the surrounding area down to bottom thigh. It mainly hurts when trying to sit up and stand down, and when walking hurts but much less. At rest you don’t feel it.
A couple days Ago I felt pretty good actually, no complaints really except that I couldn’t sleep on my side with knees bent like I’ve been doing all my life.
I hope this isn’t a constant cycle of healing, being good for a couple days, then having problems/pain again. It probably is since there are open wounds in your thighs trying to constantly heal. There is a white goey substance around the pins, most likely white blood cells trying to heal. Pins look kind of gory, I avoid looking at them. I feel like one of the
bandages purpose is that as well.
Was told I could shower now but have to change bandages every time I do. Very happy I can shower, I hand wash daily face chest and armpits, but I only do a full body cleaning every 3 days. My privates smell like aged cheese after day 2. I don’t mind changing my bandages every day if I can shower every day. Tomorrow they will be giving me two months worth of bandage supplies. I had a burning itching sensation near my bandages, I think they are too tight, not sure but I took them off. I smelled the bandages for infection and they smell clear and clean. Hopefully doesn’t affect anything negatively by taking them off. I left the doctors supplied hotel as my 10 days are finished, was happy because the internet barely worked there so couldn’t binge watch movies when bored. Staying at Marriott Asia hotel and going to my Airbnb tomorrow.
Today was a really bad day, I went to a shopping center regardless of pinsite pain. Had a really bad taxi driver. There was a lot of speed bumps in the area and he didn’t slow down for them much which really hurt because I already had pain near pinsites. Not to mention he almost crashed literally 4 times. Someone would be coming fast and he would take a turn and cut them off no signal, one car slammed on their breaks and was about 2-3 feet from hitting us. What a stupid idiot, no consideration driving like that with a post surgery patient. My wife said something to him in English but he didn’t understand. All the other taxi drivers were good so far but today was the day. Then when leaving the mall, it was a steep hill and very windy and while standing I lost my footing for a second, stepped down the curb, I put all my weight on one leg and it hurt pretty bad. Pain went away eventually, feels ok now.
I probably shouldnt be going out so much in my condition, it is very risky
but I also hate being in a room all day, was never much of a homebody, and it also combats my knee pain/aches since I am in sitting position all day with them bent in wheelchair.
I’ve had NO problems at all going out every day since hospital release except during the weekend curfew but today I faced a lot of obstacles. To top it all off, I had a bowel movement since I drank coffee today, the Marriott hotel toilet seat is so low to the ground it’s lower than my knees when I am standing up. It looks almost like a kid toilet. I was trying to sit down and atcertain point of bending my legs give out and have no strength, and my wife was helping but could not hold my weight and I basically plopped on it from 12 inches which gave me 7/10 pain, enough to make me verbally yell. I was stuck after I finished, my knees were way higher than my hips, that’s how small the stupid toilet was. Terrible construction. It took a lot of pain and effort from me and my wife to get off the toilet and stand. For a second I thought I was going to have to call the hotel staff to help. Thank the lord I didn’t have to
On June 3rd I will have my first lengthening xray.
Picture of Marriott toilet
https://imgur.com/gallery/D2auRUd
Day 15: I had showered and left my bandages off after the night before. The shower felt amazing, after 2 weeks of handwashing. Definitely improved blood flow to my legs. Although it was exhausting, I stood the whole time for 45 minutes with a walker and starting feeling very dizzy sometimes. Afterwards I went to sleep after drying everything, but the fixator is very hard to dry, it has so many inner crevices that hold water.
Woke up with all my pins oozing a lot of a yellow clearish substance. Even after cleaning it off, it would ooze again. Scared me quite a bit, substance was slightly sticky, but did not have a smell or smell of infection. Assistant came with 2 months worth of bandages supplies, and dropped them off. Paid about 90$ usd. I started by showering again and getting all the dried substance with a q tip. Washed it with water pressure but no soap. After I dried it off I cleaned it very well with the antibacterial and bandaged it again. Felt way better, I did the bandages myself very good for my first try. Do not feel it oozing or anything.
Extremely cautious when showering with my walker, if I fall or slip it will be the end of me
The bandages prevent your pins from moving in and out and actually help with discomfort and pain. I will not be leaving them off at all.
A lot of my pinsite pain went away but now I have knee pain on left leg and pain in the inner fold of the left leg. I guess this is going to be a cycle of different pain. I wish I could get a good nights rest so bad, I don’t feel completely satisfied with my sleeping. Still have like 2 months to go, gonna be tough but I’ll have to push through it. Seems when something heals, another pops up. A few days ago I felt good as I could be at rest, now I have different pains coming and going, they are bearable but affect my quality of life, getting in and out of taxis is considerably painful with pinsite pain. I’m the most comfortable when sitting in my wheelchair with a pillow under me honestly. At the moment I’m happy I can now shower and that I think my pinsites are good and clean now, and hopefully will not have any liquid substance coming out anymore.
-
hi man, I'm really thinking go to Istanbul to Buldu because is the price i can afford. Can i PM you for some questions. Did you contact direct to dr Buldu and was he your surgeon? Is he checking on your progress day bay day, or you are by your own trying to understand if you have pin infection o not ?
-
hi man, I'm really thinking go to Istanbul to Buldu because is the price i can afford. Can i PM you for some questions. Did you contact direct to dr Buldu and was he your surgeon? Is he checking on your progress day bay day, or you are by your own trying to understand if you have pin infection o not ?
I don’t have a pin infection, after I cleaned up and put bandages on they have been completely dry and normal. Don’t do femurs. Coming from someone that had them done.
Do tibias, it’ll be only 1/2 as hard
Doctor seems to always be on WhatsApp 24-7 which is cool, I don’t think the man sleeps
-
I Had a 45 minute drive to Airbnb. Made it somehow. Wasn’t too bad but It got uncomfortable towards the middle and end. Route was very scenic and beautiful. Taxi driver texted and drived a lot of the way, if we crash it’ll ruin everything, the taxi drivers went from good at first to bad seemingly. Left knee pain is my biggest complaint at the moment. Made it to the Airbnb. I definitely recommend over the hotel, it has so much more space and you just feel like you’re not in a cage. That is what the hotel rooms felt like, even if they’re nice that extra space is great mentally. nice Airbnb but I screwed myself because it’s not wheelchair accessible. Doesn’t have an elevator ground floor. only one floor up to the apartment, but the stairs have no handrails just walls on both sides and the steps are not small, they are 12’ each which was difficult getting up with help of my wife.
https://imgur.com/gallery/zleWepg
Also shows sweatpants that cover fixators^
Update* Going down was bad because I injured myself. It was bound to happen. There is a 15 inch single step outside the elevator, I ended up trying to get down with my wife’s help and lost my balance on right leg and put all my weight on my left leg for a good 15 seconds while it was bending. Surprisingly it didn’t hurt too much initially, maybe because of the fear idk. After that i had my wife literally wheelbarrow me down the stairs. She helped me lay flat on the ground, picked up my feet, and I used my hands to get down the stairs, by the last step my arms were giving out. Kind of disappointed in myself, I used to be a state placing wrestler 6 years ago, now I just feel like a sack of potatoes.
https://imgur.com/gallery/oweCQ7U
We went out But 2 hours later the pain sunk in and my leg felt like it was hit with a hammer. At first it was a bad throbbing pain, enough to make me call a taxi and go home, but then it kept getting worse. By the time I got out the taxi I was screaming inside. It was a constant 9/10 pain that lasted hours, I even started crying at one point. Outside the apartment entrance, two men saw my distress and came and picked me up from the shoulders and carried me to the room. God bless them, Turkish people are so kind. I haven’t cried in years since a funeral.
It’s no fault but mine
I really wanted to stay in but I felt bad for my wife, she never says it but I can tell she really wanted to go out and was extremely bored. After getting home I took pain meds but the pain didn’t subside right away. It’s been about 4 1/2 hours now and it’s still a constant 2.5/10. I took the pain medicine dolorex and novalgin but it helped only somewhat. The doctor prescribed me Xanax but I can only pick it up Monday. So my wife to a taxi to another patient and picked some up for me, what a lifesaver
I’m an idiot for refusing the prescription at first, Everyone got Xanax and Oxys except me. The doctor asked me the day of my discharge if I wanted anything to help with sleep, and in my head I thought he was going to prescribe me something stupid like NyQuil so I said it’s okay. Little did I know that was the stupidest decision only second to getting monorail femurs I’ve made this trip.
I would post them but imgur takes it down, they are brand name Xanax by Pfizer, just took one, bless your heart zhe
Edit* I asked doctor if nail could have bent or my bone could be affected, since it hurts a lot near the break site. He said it’s fine and it should be just pain, because the monorail system is strong enough to withhold all my weight even on one leg, I trust him but I really hope he’s 100% right
Weekend curfew will force me to stay indoors anyways. Bone clicking way more prominent in left leg only now. I will be resting and staying in for a little while. Some advice, if you do LL anywhere make sure your apartment/hotel whatever is wheelchair friendly
I didn’t even think twice about it because in America everything’s wheelchair friendly, definitely not over here, a lot of sideways don’t even have ramps and the ones that do, stupid d*k heads park in front of them since there are no parking lots here. Most of me is to blame for injuring myself but if there was a freaking handrail or anything in place I would be fine, I mean who the F builds stairs and steps without a handrail?
-
We got you homie, you're the real MVP for taking the pain head-on!
-
allah yusallmak
-
allah yusallmak
Thank you so much bro
-
Update on my pain, my left leg could not bear weight without pain so I stayed off my feet but I had to urinate so I would go to the bathroom with my walker and had to put most of my weight on my right leg since my left was painful. Stupid idea, I started having same type of pain but less intense in my right leg. Currently I’ve been in bed all day and the pain has went away since the doctors assistant brought me tramadol a couple hours ago, the painkillers I had were not enough for the type of pain I was experiencing. The Xanax I took made me fall asleep but I woke up with pain few hours later. It has been a lot of constant pain , from moderate to intense, extremely upset at the Airbnb for having such a idiotic construction. Currently I’m fine, just laying in bed and will be for the next coming days. Did physical therapy in bed today and it did worsen the pain I believe. Doctor is saying it is fine, just pain. Will have an X-ray in next few days to make sure. I urinate in a bottle now, I will be staying in bed to be safe from now on, pain has subsided for now but I want to let my body heal so it doesn’t come back so no more walking or even standing until maybe monday
-
Update: I had to make a bowel movement earlier so I got up with my walker, walking to the bathroom was painful when I put weight on my left heel, but if on my left tippy toe I didn’t feel pain, while walking something popped, a cringe cartilage feeling, it was painful but after that I stopped feeling pain when standing on my heel. After having a bowel movement I still felt okay so I took advantage and took a shower, then changed my bandages afterwards. My left leg is still painful by the inside fold when turning or certain angles, however I feel much better leg wise. I wasn’t able to even walk with a walker the prior days. Currently I’m having problems with my lower back from laying day mostly all day this weekend, I have a herniated disk l4 & l5 from a car accident when a drunk driver hit me and it’s irritated. One does not get a break with this surgery. It’s a cycle, last week I was walking unaided, a couple days ago I was back to square one. I’m anxious to take my X-rays in a couple days to make sure everything is okay
-
Sorry for the late update guys. I went through surgery around 2 and woke up at 6:45 in pretty bad pain. Kept half sleeping on and off until 1-2am due to the pain and discomfort. I can understand now when another person that did cll said it feels like getting hit by a car. I was under the impression I would be under an epidural and anesthesia but I think it is just anesthesia I don’t feel anything around my lower back and my legs have feeling.
My right leg hurt way more than my left leg for some reason, but both hurt pretty bad. This is not an easy surgery, mentally it is terrifying
The whole day seems to take forever yesterday. It is mental torture to yourself. I kept cursing myself why am I doing this, I should have just been happy with my height. When they take you to the operation room and you have 7-8 doctors around you and you know your about to have your legs broken you mind screams for you to stop. Physically it was nowhere as bad mentally, and that is not to say it wasn’t bad physically, it’s bad pain physically but way more mentally for me.
https://imgur.com/gallery/tBSJPqm
This is a picture of my fixator ^
I woke up with a catheter inside and a little blood around my penis. The nurses would not let me eat until 11 but because they were giving me pain medicine I started throwing up liquid
Yes! People seem to forget the pain and discomfort a person goes thru with these surgeries. If you are older like me I do not recommend. The body does not respond as well and mentally it is a challenge to get thru this. You muse have a companion for help, shopping, etc . I had no help initially and quite frankly had some breakdowns bc a person does not have a clue how difficult the entire process is.....think hard and talk to a couple patients of the docs you want to see!
-
hope you get better man, we all be waiting your x rays are good. Cant you change to other airbnb or place with elevator or no stairs ?
-
hope you get better man, we all be waiting your x rays are good. Cant you change to other airbnb or place with elevator or no stairs ?
Thanks a ton man, I could but because I paid for it and I would lose my money no refund. I have just been staying in. The mornings I usually feel the most discomfort but since I have been prescribed tramadol and Xanax it has helped me cope a lot better. I don’t fear getting addicted or anything, once these fixators are off I will feel so much better I just have to wing it for now. Also today and the next couple days until my X-ray I am decreasing from 1.25mm per day to .75m
My physical therapist is about to be here. I have noticed a very slight decrease in flexibility since lengthening, I should be at around 1.3cm now
Knee range of motion
https://imgur.com/gallery/rXPJbpZ
-
please would be nice if you tell how you feel less flexibility along you are lengthening. i always thought at the first 4 cm there is not much difference and after the 6 is when it gets most noticeable
-
Yeah you have right
-
please would be nice if you tell how you feel less flexibility along you are lengthening. i always thought at the first 4 cm there is not much difference and after the 6 is when it gets most noticeable
It’s a minimal decrease, barely noticeable
-
Mate how did you contact with Buldu ? Im trying to get some information for planning my surgery but al i get is tourism companies as livelafitaller, wannabetaller, etc.. And makes me suspicious that here in the forum there are few fake users promoting and posting as they were patients telling buldu is a hero, buldu is not like others, contact me for information blablabla
-
532 356 48 75
This is his number in WhatsApp
Make sure to press turkey for the country so it is +90 532 356 48 75
He does the operation almost every single day he is in the operation room, but I only 3 weeks post op I can’t say an opinion until I fully heal
-
Thanks mate, try to be positive and patience. I read in other post you already regret doing lon on femur. Why ? Think it would be better on tibia ? Be positive I'm sure you will be very happy after the lightening, it's the bad part of the process
-
Thanks mate, try to be positive and patience. I read in other post you already regret doing lon on femur. Why ? Think it would be better on tibia ? Be positive I'm sure you will be very happy after the lightening, it's the bad part of the process
Because fixator on femur is very very hard, more pain and discomfort, especially the first couple weeks
On tibia it is way easy
-
Since I have been prescribed stronger medicines my pain and discomfort has been greatly relieved. It is definitely still there but it feels so much better now with Xanax and tramadol (not taking at same time).
The mornings used to be the best time, now since I am staying home and resting mostly it is the worst time, when I wake up usually I take tramadol because my legs are very achy sore and painful from being in same position at night. When the tramadol wears off I take a dolorex and half Xanax and this keeps me comfortable for the rest of the day, then the other half Xanax before I sleep. I will be doing more physical therapy and I have a new sense of hope that I can get through the lengthening phase with these narcotics. My sleep quality has improved x2 at the least, obviously not near pre-op but I feel rested and don’t wake up multiple times in the night.
I will quit them completely when I don’t need them ( shortly after frame removal ). I have very strong willpower and was able to quit vaping habit couple months before surgery even though it was hard physically/mentally my mind overcame it easily. I have been taking the pain face first since being discharged I’ve only had weak painkillers and they never worked relieving the pain fully. Turkeys painkillers seem to be way less potent than America’s but the recent ones I’ve got are good and it really helps me get through the day. It seems the days have been flying by when taking the Xanax and painkillers since I’m more comfortable with minor problems, before it was painful and slow. Also since I have been allowed to shower now I usually do every other day and change my bandages, but I find the showers relieve a ton of discomfort/pain by the hot and cold method. I use the handheld sprayer and put really hot water on my thighs knees and tibias front/rear for a minute then switch it to very cold water for a minute and I do this about 5 times, works like a charm. Still have the pain in my left leg inner fold. It’s better now but still prevents me from walking unassisted like I used to.
The X-ray guy just came, weirdly funny guy. Joked around and said I have sexy legs, after xray he said good news you’re not pregnant.
I’ve always lengthened evenly But the 1MM discrepancy is from the surgery the guy said and even though some people lengthen one leg slightly more that femur might be shorter than the other leg due to starting discrepancy. No one has perfectly equal leg length, and he said the last week we will correct it to get equal length of both femurs
My X-ray results
https://imgur.com/gallery/xkE3EcT
-
Also for the pain in my left leg they are saying most likely tendon or muscle strain and will eventually go away on its on own. I feel like the left leg nail looks slightly deviated but doctor is said everything looks good after trolling me a little. I hope so.
https://imgur.com/gallery/qqm0aP6
(Photo doesn’t show left^ only doctor response)
At first I had thought I had bone clicking but it was just fluid, now I have real bone clicking occasionally when walking which feels like something hitting the inside of your femur, it’s only slightly painful but it’s an extremely uncomfortable feeling and makes you stop what you’re doing for 5-10 seconds and take a deep breath.
Photo attached, as time goes on the external femurs become slightly more comfortable as your thigh gets longer the shiny metal part where you turn to lengthen goes up towards the end of the rail. https://imgur.com/gallery/7Z8iil0
So like when you lengthen 5cm it gets 50mm closer to the end and it helps because it doesn’t dig in the bed when sitting etc. my flexibility and knee rom is very good now but I am only at 1.6-1.7cm
I would never put myself through the suffering again with externals especially the first 1-2 weeks unless maybe tibia but I feel that in my current state and with the medicine I have things are not so bad and bearable. I may feel different when I hit the 5cm mark. At the moment everything is good except my constant worry about the inner fold pain in my left leg. I need to know exactly what it is. If it’s not a big deal i don’t care at all about the minor/moderate pain but I keep worrying about if it’s a possible complication
-
Mate don't get stressed thinking something is wrong as the x-ray seems to be good and doctor says that. You are few days to 2cm taller !! What about physio ? they send a doctor to your place or its not included? I guess you only paid for surgery and not the package complete with accommodation and food. What would you recommend now, think it would be easier for me as I'm probably going alone to get the full package surgery, hotel and food? Are you doing exercise or do you have to wait like 1 month o something like that? Are you taking vitamins and calcium ?
-
another question, why did you stop vaping for surgery ?? i vape a lot a LOT, is it bad ? did you prepare for the surgery before training and stretching ?
-
Mate don't get stressed thinking something is wrong as the x-ray seems to be good and doctor says that. You are few days to 2cm taller !! What about physio ? they send a doctor to your place or its not included? I guess you only paid for surgery and not the package complete with accommodation and food. What would you recommend now, think it would be easier for me as I'm probably going alone to get the full package surgery, hotel and food? Are you doing exercise or do you have to wait like 1 month o something like that? Are you taking vitamins and calcium ?
I have free ten sessions of physiotherapy. After my next one I pay for them. I do physiotherapy 3 times a week and then with my wife one time a week from memory. I take vitamin D and calcium.
The package doesn’t include food only breakfast, me and my wife eat mostly healthy take out, I did not take the package, I have an Airbnb
-
another question, why did you stop vaping for surgery ?? i vape a lot a LOT, is it bad ? did you prepare for the surgery before training and stretching ?
Yes vaping is very bad, nicotine affects healing and bone growth very negatively. I vaped for about a year prior to quitting. Most doctors won’t operate on patients that vape/smoke/smoke nicotine or even weed.
I didn’t train or stretch at all, I was already very flexible from middle and high school I was a 6th place in state wrestler and track runner. I also did other sports non competitively like swimming for fun etc.
Although I have not worked out in years I still retained a good amount of flexibility
-
i vape a lot, will put down nicotine in my mix to 0%. I will try to contact Buldu about this vaping to stop prior to surgery. Do you have the link for all information on what is included and not. Sorry mate, i didn't get if you contacted Buldu by one of the many companies or direct to him. Keep strong and patience just 2 months to go, and you will be freed from the fixator
-
i vape a lot, will put down nicotine in my mix to 0%. I will try to contact Buldu about this vaping to stop prior to surgery. Do you have the link for all information on what is included and not. Sorry mate, i didn't get if you contacted Buldu by one of the many companies or direct to him. Keep strong and patience just 2 months to go, and you will be freed from the fixator
I just contacted him directly and negotiated the price from 16k euro to 15k euro including 10 day hotel and 10 session of physical therapy, that’s all. I planned everything else on my own besides that. You can contact him via the number in the screenshot I posted, just put it in WhatsApp that’s his personal number
Even vaping without nicotine I would tell you to stop. This surgery isn’t a game, it’s extremely serious and anything that affects or hinders your health let go of before you even consider
-
mate are you in Istambul lengthening already ? how you doing ?
-
I can second the idea of cutting out any "non-sense" to your body 2-3 months before surgery, including smoking & drinking & eating junk food etc because you really want your body to be in a prime condition during lengthening. Your body needs to be in that state in order to produce sufficient soft tissues to rebuild your leg.
LL is the world's most extreme cosmetic surgery, and the next 6-12 months will be the hardest time you will ever experience in your life (both mentally & physically).
-
Met with a private physical therapist today. I will be doing more exercises now to prepare for the tightness and tension most people experience around 5-6cm. I notice a slight loss in flexibility only when laying flat on my back and having the therapist lift my leg straight to a 90 degree angle. Before surgery I could go past the 90 degree mark but now this 90 degree seems to be my maximum at 2cm mark.
The therapist today used a machine on all my areas of pain / tension that sent little shocks and afterwards massaged them. He showed me how to bend my knees properly when walking with a walker, and corrected my walking posture. We did some stretching and exercises with some ankle weights for a while. Total session lasted about 45 minutes, I paid 30$ usd for this session. It was borderline easy, after I lengthen more it will be harder for sure. My left leg is still weaker/painful around hip/top thigh area than my right, probably due to the left leg nail being not perfectly straight, which he said should not be a problem at all when the bones heal. He said my flexibility and range of motion was very good, let’s hope it stays this way.
Current knee rom: https://imgur.com/gallery/Xl71oY3
The other physical therapist does mostly basic stretches and exercises which are 20 minute sessions. I will be doing 3 sessions with him and 1-2 advanced sessions with the private therapist every week. From what Ive seen/read Exercise and physical therapy very important for recovery and preventing complications/bad posture or gait when walking during higher end of lengthening and after fixator removal.
Besides that not much of to update, I still can’t walk unaided like I used to but I definitely feel less pain when walking and feel easy to walk, stand and sit with my walker. I leave this Airbnb tomorrow to a wheelchair accessible one so I will finally be going out after over a week of staying indoors. Last night I had pain at night in my legs and also lower back that made it hard to fall asleep because I had discomfort no matter what position I picked. I have random hours of 3/10 pain throughout the day and night that come/go for 1-2 hours, usually near top pinsite area or knee area
-
Since I have been prescribed stronger medicines my pain and discomfort has been greatly relieved. It is definitely still there but it feels so much better now with Xanax and tramadol (not taking at same time).
The mornings used to be the best time, now since I am staying home and resting mostly it is the worst time, when I wake up usually I take tramadol because my legs are very achy sore and painful from being in same position at night. When the tramadol wears off I take a dolorex and half Xanax and this keeps me comfortable for the rest of the day, then the other half Xanax before I sleep. I will be doing more physical therapy and I have a new sense of hope that I can get through the lengthening phase with these narcotics. My sleep quality has improved x2 at the least, obviously not near pre-op but I feel rested and don’t wake up multiple times in the night.
I will quit them completely when I don’t need them ( shortly after frame removal ). I have very strong willpower and was able to quit vaping habit couple months before surgery even though it was hard physically/mentally my mind overcame it easily. I have been taking the pain face first since being discharged I’ve only had weak painkillers and they never worked relieving the pain fully. Turkeys painkillers seem to be way less potent than America’s but the recent ones I’ve got are good and it really helps me get through the day. It seems the days have been flying by when taking the Xanax and painkillers since I’m more comfortable with minor problems, before it was painful and slow. Also since I have been allowed to shower now I usually do every other day and change my bandages, but I find the showers relieve a ton of discomfort/pain by the hot and cold method. I use the handheld sprayer and put really hot water on my thighs knees and tibias front/rear for a minute then switch it to very cold water for a minute and I do this about 5 times, works like a charm. Still have the pain in my left leg inner fold. It’s better now but still prevents me from walking unassisted like I used to.
The X-ray guy just came, weirdly funny guy. Joked around and said I have sxxy legs, after xray he said good news you’re not pregnant.
I’ve always lengthened evenly But the 1MM discrepancy is from the surgery the guy said and even though some people lengthen one leg slightly more that femur might be shorter than the other leg due to starting discrepancy. No one has perfectly equal leg length, and he said the last week we will correct it to get equal length of both femurs
My X-ray results
https://imgur.com/gallery/xkE3EcT
To get good bone formation should you do anything different regarding to exercise etc. when you have done tibia lengthening using external fixation (Taylor Spatial Frame) compared to using internal nail and also compared to femur lengthening using LON?
-
To get good bone formation should you do anything different regarding to exercise etc. when you have done tibia lengthening using external fixation (Taylor Spatial Frame) compared to using internal nail and also compared to femur lengthening using LON?
If you can weightbear, good bone formation relies mostly on walking/blood circulation and eating good specifically dairy and taking supplements like vitamin D etc.
I’m not sure if overdoing all this is bad because of possibly leading to early consolidation
-
Day 31 post OP: yesterday was my breaking point mentally, possibly because my wife might leave early her birthday. But also because I hate it here, being so far away from home, being in a foreign country for so long is not an easy thing. It’s not easy for either of us, it feels alienating after so long. It also seems I can’t get comfortable anywhere, in my current condition. There is always pain/discomfort.
I switch places every week, but no place is really set up for me, either the bed is uncomfortable or the bathroom is barely big enough to fit my walker or the wifi sucks terribly. Also, I had some really bad pinsite pain and muscle pain last couple days, it started a week ago and got worse.
So I stopped lengthening the last day and I will not today also. That one day of not lengthening gave me a lot of relief. It really dropped my pain level, not completely but a lot. I guess it makes no sense doing 1.25m some days (I would do 1mm and 1.25m here and there), if it causes you extra pain and to stop. I’m sure when I lengthen even 1mm some pain will come back. My progress will be slow now which sucks. My motivation level is really low, knowing I have some progress made but I’m so far away still after what seems like endless suffering. Even the sometimes when my pain level drops close to 1-2, the discomfort does not go away from the fixators, I can’t sleep in a comfortable position, I take Xanax to sleep, but when I wake up in the morning it’s in a state of pain and discomfort. Night and morning seem to be the hardest. This whole thing is hard, on top of paying money it drains you mentally, physically, & emotionally. So far the small positive thing is I can notice I’m taller than my wife by 3-4cm, before it was only 1cm barely noticeable. But lack of motivation you don’t really even care, you just miss your prior life so much. There’s nothing you can do at this point except keep suffering and recover, if I quit now it’ll all be in the vain.
I can’t wait to have a normal life again God-willing, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be ungrateful when I do.
P.S. my left nail angle from X-ray worried me slightly, but everyone keeps saying it’s completely fine. upon checking my initial X-ray from the hospital, it looks like it’s always been that way.
-
I know what you mean man. This isn’t easy. Everyday I want to quit.
I’ll wait for my next X-rays to make a decision to stop. If I can only do 4cm, sh*t, 4cm it is. Really sucks, but I miss my life so much dude. Let’s hang in there.
But whatever you do please Call the staff to check to see if you have an infection.
-
I know what you mean man. This isn’t easy. Everyday I want to quit.
I’ll wait for my next X-rays to make a decision to stop. If I can only do 4cm, sh*t, 4cm it is. Really sucks, but I miss my life so much dude. Let’s hang in there.
But whatever you do please Call the staff to check to see if you have an infection.
It was just pinsite pain, it went away after I took a break thank God
I’m gonna try to hang in there, if so probably will end up spending my birthday here lol
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/iEdhPJ4
I already said this but, Taking a break has provided a huge relief. I am able to walk unassisted again after not being able to for a while. My muscles have atrophy for sure after this long. I walk like a penguin. The rod clicking (when you step you feel the rod in your bones shake/vibrate) does not hurt at all but when I step I can feel it every few steps, it feels weird and somewhat uncomfortable and affects your step because you try to take weight off when you feel it click/hit against the bone
No matter what method you use, learn from my mistake and take a break if you feel a lot of pain
I feel dumb for overtaxing my body like that, I am glad it was able to recover a lot after just a short period. I would say my legs feel 50-55% better/less strained
-
I learned I had a pinsite infection, it is common but I was not able to identify it. Besides the area being painful/inflamed their is no discharge or smell so I couldn’t tell and neither could the physical therapist. I recommend staying very close to the doctor or BOF hotel where the patients stay, I am there on the way now as I write this, to take a antibiotic shot. My other places of staying were far away so the assistants could not come check on me, and it’s been a week or so that I’ve felt this but brushed it off as lengthening pain.
Do not go over 1mm. I feel 1-2/10 pain level most of the time besides pinsite now that I have stuck to this. It’s really dumb doing 1.25 like I did, the amount of extra pain and discomfort is 2-3x, and then you end up having to stop. I could have saved myself a lot of suffering. I’m checking into the hotel now
I decided to go back to America with my wife this week. I’ll figure out coming back for fixator removal later, but I was pushing myself to lengthen fast so I could leave here quicker. It’s detrimental to me. I’d rather be home with a support system and family, at the moment I don’t care about much else. My mental health is taking a toll being so far away from home in a foreign country, and my wife was leaving next week so I thought about it and I don’t think I could stay here alone, so I decided to go back and booked my ticket. I believe it will make lengthening much easier, being emotionally and mentally relieved time will go by faster. It’s a long plane ride, will be hard but I’ll take some Xanax and thug it out
I’m meeting with the doctor and assistant to do a check up, and I will get some extra antibiotic injection in case I need them in the future, and should be doing xrays in a few days, it’ll be nice to see everyone before I leave for 4-5 weeks
Update* extremely recommend doing the package, learn from my mistakes. I wouldn’t do in first place again but if you do, the hotel is pretty nice, and there are like 40-50 patients or more here. In The gym I met an Asian girl and another person doing physio, there is a professional bandage changer, all the logistics are figured out for you. And there is always an assistant around if you need anything, it’s basically a limb lengthening center. The even change the bandages perfectly every time. It was kind of dumb staying somewhere else far away from the necessities that I need in this surgery
I did have an infection, he said it wasn’t to bad I received an injection
-
Hey bud.
@activatedXx
I hope you’re okay man. Your diary was a little hard to read I couldn’t imagine dealing with an infection on top of the sh**t we deal with everyday. Looking forward to talking to you as well. Seems that 5’7 is a cursed height huh lol. Hope you’re felling better. Talk to you soon.
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/IMD7ysP
Hey, think I just saw you, Hope you’re doing ok , once that first week is over it gets much better
I feel 5’7 and under is short, once you hit 5’8 that is slightly under average, but not short.
This is of video of my hotel I had my wife record, I paid about 40$ usd per night and it is really nice for the price, compared to the other places. Very modern and has English channels, and it’s big, the other places were much smaller. More importantly, there is a support system here, that I wish I had since day one arranged my stay here. If you can’t afford the extra negotiate it, but don’t go lone wolf like I did. Ended up screwing myself
Edit* met many more patients here, made the time pass, hung out with them for the last few hours and talked, even if you don’t take the package I would stay here. It’s a right ecosystem this surgery is how I can describe it
Important info
It wasn’t mentioned at first but there are certain sleeping positions you must follow to avoid complications. Supposedly you can lengthen at a faster rate if you sleep flat with no pillow on your back. A few people here including assistants told me not to sleep with a pillow at night because it causes duck a$s, and not to sleep with a pillow behind your legs etc
-
I will come to you wait. will expose you too
-
I will come to you wait. will expose you too
?
No idea what you mean but okay
I don’t support this surgery and members that message me I tell them think three times instead of twice, I’m just sharing my personal experience
-
I will come to you wait. will expose you too
wtf? is this a threat
-
I will come to you wait. will expose you too
What is this supposed to mean, you fool? Don't take him seriously guys. He's been spamming bullsh*t all over the threads. He's mentally spoiled. he should be banned IMO.
-
What is this supposed to mean, you fool? Don't take him seriously guys. He's been spamming bullsh*t all over the threads. He's mentally spoiled. he should be banned IMO.
Yeah, I noticed him just commenting negative on everyone’s posts in turkey.
Their are definitely some flaws, that could be fixed, but it’s been decent especially for the amount I paid. I definitely could not ever push myself to do something like this again unless it’s internal nail later down the road, but even though the method I have is uncomfortable and boring, at least I didn’t have to dump my entire savings like if I had done stryde in the USA
-
wtf? is this a threat
Lol I don’t even consider worthy of our attention
-
?
No idea what you mean but okay
I don’t support this surgery and members that message me I tell them think three times instead of twice, I’m just sharing my personal experience
Mistakenly posted .sorry it was not about you
-
Quick update
Most comfortable bed I’ve had so far, but I haven’t been getting a good nights rest since I got my pinsite infection. It gets considerably worse at night, but today they prescribed me oral antibiotics and it feels 50% better, but not fully healed. It should be in 2-3 days right before my flight back home. if you have this surgery done your top concern after week one/two should be preventing pinsite from getting infected, because it is easy to infect (especially because when you sit on the toilet it’s only an inch from bandages) and its the only thing at the moment that causes me more than 1-2/10 pain at rest (without pain medicine except aspirin for my pinsite inflammation) hopefully once it’s resolved it will be smooth sailing, I don’t have much to complain about except discomfort at the moment, even if I can’t get in a comfortable position I’m not in pain most of the day. I could have saved myself a week+ of constant suffering from pinsite infection pain had I been more careful or stayed around the area so they can change bandages for me, i mistook it for lengthening pain since there was no discharge or physically noticeable symptons besides color/texture change to the skin around the pin.
The site will feel hot and swell up
I copied how they change bandages and double gauze wrap/soak site with antibacterial, so hopefully I won’t get anymore pinsite troubles. Before I didn’t double wrap the gauze pads and that is extremely important.
Had a physical therapy session with another patient yesterday. Therapist said I have 145 degree knee ROM (full range of motion) but before surgery my heels would touch butt, so my knee bending still has some way to go, probably will be like Pre-OP when fixators come off. I feel like my journey actually started now that I’m 3cm mark, at the surgery and first month you don’t notice a difference until 1’ inch, so once you hit 1’ it’s where you actually start feeling a new height and in the weeks that follow.
Many patients I meet here do 1.25mm a day, and some 1.5mm+, I’ve always known 1mm should be max but there are certain techniques and exercises that make it copeable. I met a German guy that does 1.75mm a day and I guess he spends like a few hours exercising/stretching per day, he is due for fixator removal in few days for 8cm, but personally I’m sticking at 1mm or 1.25mm maximum, don’t want to risk permanent nerve damage
-
Quick update
Most comfortable bed I’ve had so far, but I haven’t been getting a good nights rest since I got my pinsite infection. It gets considerably worse at night, but today they prescribed me oral antibiotics and it feels 50% better, but not fully healed. It should be in 2-3 days right before my flight back home. if you have this surgery done your top concern after week one/two should be preventing pinsite from getting infected, because it is easy to infect (especially because when you sit on the toilet it’s only an inch from bandages) and its the only thing at the moment that causes me more than 1-2/10 pain at rest (without pain medicine except aspirin for my pinsite inflammation) hopefully once it’s resolved it will be smooth sailing, I don’t have much to complain about except discomfort at the moment, even if I can’t get in a comfortable position I’m not in pain most of the day. I could have saved myself a week+ of constant suffering from pinsite infection pain had I been more careful or stayed around the area so they can change bandages for me, i mistook it for lengthening pain since there was no discharge or physically noticeable symptons besides color/texture change to the skin around the pin.
The site will feel hot and swell up
I copied how they change bandages and double gauze wrap/soak site with antibacterial, so hopefully I won’t get anymore pinsite troubles. Before I didn’t double wrap the gauze pads and that is extremely important.
Had a physical therapy session with another patient yesterday. Therapist said I have 145 degree knee ROM (full range of motion) but before surgery my heels would touch butt, so my knee bending still has some way to go, probably will be like Pre-OP when fixators come off. I feel like my journey actually started now that I’m 3cm mark, at the surgery and first month you don’t notice a difference until 1’ inch, so once you hit 1’ it’s where you actually start feeling a new height and in the weeks that follow.
Many patients I meet here do 1.25mm a day, and some 1.5mm+, I’ve always known 1mm should be max but there are certain techniques and exercises that make it copeable. I met a German guy that does 1.75mm a day and I guess he spends like a few hours exercising/stretching per day, he is due for fixator removal in few days for 8cm, but personally I’m sticking at 1mm or 1.25mm maximum, don’t want to risk permanent nerve damage
A patient in this forum wrote this:
One small addition; use a disinfectans without alcohol (ethanol) cause this causes tissue damage which can eventually increase the risk for infections.
Kind regards
Jolien
Do you know if it is OK to use the disinfectans chlorhexidine for ~1 year when you have to wear exfix in tibia for about 1 year?
-
A patient in this forum wrote this:
Do you know if it is OK to use the disinfectans chlorhexidine for ~1 year when you have to wear exfix in tibia for about 1 year?
They have a very good disinfectant called botiqon or something that we use. It’s a maroon colored liquid that dries up the site and prevents any discharge and infection. After you clean and bandage you can use alcohol or whatever you prefer for your skin, as long as it doesn’t get on bandage or wet the bandage only the area around it
-
@Activatedxx
Correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand you will travel home and lengthen the rest of your lengthening. Have you thought about stay at the hotel instead where you have the "buldu team" near you and finish your lengthening there and travel home when you have your fixator removed. Wish you the best
-
@Activatedxx
Correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand you will travel home and lengthen the rest of your lengthening. Have you thought about stay at the hotel instead where you have the "buldu team" near you and finish your lengthening there and travel home when you have your fixator removed. Wish you the best
My wife is returning for college and her birthday, so I could but it would be 45-50 days alone by myself, which I don’t think I could do mentally or I would end up quitting early of my goal. I will be more comfortable at home and have my family as a support system. I will figure out the rest later, such as returning for fixator removal. It would be better to stay for sure, but I don’t have the substance to do it at the moment, I’m already drained mentally, physically, and emotionally - to stay by myself alone for another 7 weeks is more than I can carry
took my X-rays today. I reached left femur 30.1mm and right 30.5mm
Have not received the X-ray photos yet, I just went over them with the X-ray tech earlier. When I get I will upload them to Imgur.
-
man relax its bad idea to leave as you are near the doctor and already stressed. As i understtod you are already in the hotel that they offer in the pack and where all the patients are staying and you meet them in the gym or around. Stay there get together they will have their own experiences to share and recommendations. being far from the surgeon is not good at this point. did i get it right ? are you in the same hotel where you arrived befire surgery the hotel buldu put all his patients ?
-
The last couple days have been terrible. Before I left the doctor saw my X-ray and I had a complication with the nail and needed surgery The next morning
Show in X-ray below, 3cm gain
https://imgur.com/gallery/p7hHNPX
before and after surgery. (Right leg X-ray doesn’t count, it’s the ones that say L)
From my first X-ray I always thought the nail looked weird, and everyone said it was fine. However the distal part of the nail got stuck and is pulling the nail down and bending the pins. It looks a lot better after correction, but I’m upset having to go through surgery again. I appreciate the doctor doing it for no cost, however I wonder why the nail become like this in the first place, it always looked off from my very first X-ray.
It wasn’t as bad as the initial surgery but I went through a lot of suffering especially mentally and also pain. They took out the nail, replaced pins and screws, and fixed the angle
The correction looks much better and straight.
I was super nervous and stressed the whole night, when I got to the hospital it seemed like a flashback of my first surgery. Finally they took me to the operating room, and I was knocked out and woke up super cold and shivering. There was high pain for the first hour after surgery. Then it subsided most of it after they gave me pain medicine in the iv. I was discharged at 9:30pm. Since the morning, the hospital pain medicine has subsided and even with me taking prescribed medicine I have been in constant around 5/10 pain level. My leg is also swelling now. It didn’t matter to me I had to make it home, I made it to the airport from Istanbul and am now in Germany, waiting for my next flight to board back home. It is an 11 hour flight. I have pain but I am pushing through it. So much got in the way, surgery before my flight, the airport workers refusing to board me at first until I got a fit to fly medical paper sent from the doctor. I felt bad I woke him up at 5am, honestly he’s a really good hearted guy as far as personality, and looks out for his patients for a lot of things
Hopefully I pray I don’t have anymore issues, if I do I might just stop early of my goal. We shall see. I also know of another patient that had the same problem recently, I don’t think it’s common but it can happen. Everyone thinks they won’t get a complication and then it happens. This surgery is a carousel of pain, from pinsite infection to complication etc. I really wish I had went with precice 2, I would have just the nail inserted and no infection or correction/frame removal extra surgieries.
Even if it’s not weight bearing, I’m very light so it would have been a much better choice. I wouldn’t be able to go through what I went through again, even if it was a free LL or I got paid to do it, I’m drained. It’s not easy, people can tell you “tough it out it’s only 45 days left”, and have no idea how tough it is to get past each day. To make it to 7.5cm or 8, it is like climbing a mountain and when you are exhausted midway you have to keep climbing still
Alot of people fear posting on the forum because it gets around to the team, but I feel that is deceptive, you should share and be transparent of your entire experience. I’m not saying anything negative, just my experiences, all of them
-
Update, I landed, pain subsided during second flight was just constant discomfort of being cramped all day. My knees were sore and painful at rest, I massaged them. It was about a full day of flying and layover and other stuff like customs. Currently I landed an hour and half ago but I had to go through federal inspection because of my medicines, they let me go after I showed prescription and they asked some questions about my condition, I said I had a taxi accident. They lost my bag and I have been waiting a very long time now for it. I’m exhausted, very sore and cramped but I am joyful that I made it home
-
Sorry for you man,it seems like you went through some insane complications,from what i read things seems to get better once you are like a month post op,pain subside a little bit i hope it will get better for you soon
-
Sorry for you man,it seems like you went through some insane complications,from what i read things seems to get better once you are like a month post op,pain subside a little bit i hope it will get better for you soon
Yeah I was doing good then I had to have surgery again so it set me back in terms of recovery and lengthening. I lost days, and my leg is still swollen from surgery, it should subside in the next 2-3 days. At this point if anything else goes sideways I will stop at 5cm and call it a day
-
Not cool mate, you should have stayed at least a week after the second surgery. Anyway, hope now all will be cool and smooth. Did doctor had explanation to all that happened ?, could you post the xray after surgery and this last one to compare. Isn't a little misalignment on the left leg? so they added more pins? my best wishes and hope you get the height you wanted. Did many patients there had complications ?
-
I am so sorry that this incident happened to you. I can 100% sympathize with you.
Though on the good side, it's good that this was found early on before any significant damage was taken by you!
I wish you a good recovery from this 2nd surgery.
-
I am so sorry that this incident happened to you. I can 100% sympathize with you.
Though on the good side, it's good that this was found early on before any significant damage was taken by you!
I wish you a good recovery from this 2nd surgery.
Thanks a lot man, I still have limited ROM in my left hip from the surgery, and bowel irritation for the past few days. Mainly I’m upset over losing days of lengthening meaning I have extra fixator time, but hopefully everything is fine now. I still have to take an X-ray next week to make sure everything is fine
-
i know you area already sick of the fixator but try to be cool and remember the most important here is patience and calm you are already in the process and in 6 months you will forget all and enjoy your new height so try to be patient. How was the relation with Buldu when the problem happened, was he supportive ? what was the explanation to the bending and the problem? What was the solution they did ? by the xray didnt seem they did nothing to the inner nail but added more pins. Please take care and remember its just some months for life change. keep us updated. Im following your diary as im planning to go to Buldu next year
-
If you would not recommend lon on femur, what would you recommend instead on femur and any idea what it would cost?
-
i know you area already sick of the fixator but try to be cool and remember the most important here is patience and calm you are already in the process and in 6 months you will forget all and enjoy your new height so try to be patient. How was the relation with Buldu when the problem happened, was he supportive ? what was the explanation to the bending and the problem? What was the solution they did ? by the xray didnt seem they did nothing to the inner nail but added more pins. Please take care and remember its just some months for life change. keep us updated. Im following your diary as im planning to go to Buldu next year
There was no explanation, I don’t want to pin fault but I am making an educated guess it was not installed correctly in the first surgery. Experience doesn’t mean mistakes won’t happen, he does at least 3 if not 4 surgeries per day
-
If you would not recommend lon on femur, what would you recommend instead on femur and any idea what it would cost?
Precice 2 is fully internal, you can’t walk with all your weight fully, only with a walker, and the recovery time is longer, but it definitely beats LON femur
-
Precice 2 is fully internal, you can’t walk with all your weight fully, only with a walker, and the recovery time is longer, but it definitely beats LON femur
THIS.....if you can afford PRECISE 2 it’s a NO Phuckn Brainer.
-
THIS.....if you can afford PRECISE 2 it’s a NO Phuckn Brainer.
Yeah, after the terrible pain of pinsite infection, and taking the fixator out also is a painful process, etc dealing the femur fixator for months I would never choose this method again for femur
-
Yeah I was doing good then I had to have surgery again so it set me back in terms of recovery and lengthening. I lost days, and my leg is still swollen from surgery, it should subside in the next 2-3 days. At this point if anything else goes sideways I will stop at 5cm and call it a day
How much have you lengthen now? Did you see any patient who did LON tibia with Dr Halil?
-
How much have you lengthen now? Did you see any patient who did LON tibia with Dr Halil?
There are some but it seems most of them are for femur
-
There was somebody that did 10 on femur and after fixator was out directly 8 cm on tibia. INSANE but he wrote he was well i think then disappeared. In his x-rays of tibia alignment didn't look good. As the big bone has the nail inside, but the small one has nothing, so there was a big misalignment. I don't know at the end how they fix that
-
There was somebody that did 10 on femur and after fixator was out directly 8 cm on tibia. INSANE but he wrote he was well i think then disappeared. In his x-rays of tibia alignment didn't look good. As the big bone has the nail inside, but the small one has nothing, so there was a big misalignment. I don't know at the end how they fix that
Monorails are much more comfortable but less reliable and slower healing than ilizarov, people that do have complications I don’t think is very often but when they do, they usually don’t post on the forum because they are scared of P sing off the medical team, I know couple people that have complications but don’t post it, I posted mines because I believe in making an honest and transparent diary
Tibia is more likely to be misaligned, I’m not sure if they can fix it, if it was in the safe terms of lengthening (5cm-6cm)it is extra pain and surgery but I’m sure it could be fixed,
However 18cm of lengthening is pure stupidity, even if you do walk I doubt your athletic ability will be 50% of pre op
-
@Activatedxx.
Hope everything is OK with your lengthening. May I ask do you still take your stomach needle medicine and how long do you have to do that?
-
@Activatedxx.
Hope everything is OK with your lengthening. May I ask do you still take your stomach needle medicine and how long do you have to do that?
The needle is anticoagulant/bloodthinner that you take for only 10 days after surgery to prevent blood clots
-
Update: as already stated I am still upset I had extra pain and to waste days recovering from correction surgery that could have been used for lengthening. People that had surgery before me have passed me and lengthened more.
I recovered from the surgery mostly, but my incisions are still healing. I had the same bowel irritation from aenesthesthia for a few days where I would have to go number two 4-5 times a day. I started lengthening again, and I don’t have any pain from lengthening so far that is more than 2/10 except this wicked knee pain in my right knee. If my knee is bent and I move it a certain direction / put pressure on my heel I get a terrible 8/10 pain spike. It feels like my knee is on fire, It’s only on my right knee, ice packs and anti-inflammatory Diclofenac topical cream helps alot with symptoms but doesn’t prevent it from being triggered by simply sitting up/down for example. I have to carefully do everything. I also have a rubbing/grating noise when bending knees (crepitus) I’ve heard from others that it goes away after fixator removal, but it is definitely going to be a long road still, I have only crossed the halfway mark and it only keeps getting tougher and tougher. Being back home definitely does feel way way way better, but I am still at one of my top 3 lowest points I have ever been, mentally & emotionally. Being back home is the equivalent of having commissary and cigarettes in prison. It’s a big plus but still prison with these leg cuffs at the end of the day.
I have been slacking on physio since I have been home, I have been copying the exercises with my nephews but they are nowhere like a real physical therapist. I use stretching bands from Amazon and have been doing physio and stretching religiously for at least an hour every day. Stretching hard hurts at first but relieves a lot of lengthening pain so it’s a great trade off. Especially when doing some before and some after you lengthen. I’m scheduling a physical therapist this week to come
I highly regret not having the stretching bands from beginning, they would have helped a ton. They are a must have
-
Update: as already stated I am still upset I had extra pain and to waste days recovering from correction surgery that could have been used for lengthening. People that had surgery before me have passed me and lengthened more.
I recovered from the surgery mostly, but my incisions are still healing. I had the same bowel irritation from aenesthesthia for a few days where I would have to go number two 4-5 times a day. I started lengthening again, and I don’t have any pain from lengthening so far that is more than 2/10 except this wicked knee pain in my right knee. If my knee is bent and I move it a certain direction / put pressure on my heel I get a terrible 8/10 pain spike. It feels like my knee is on fire, It’s only on my right knee, ice packs and anti-inflammatory Diclofenac topical cream helps alot with symptoms but doesn’t prevent it from being triggered by simply sitting up/down for example. I have to carefully do everything. I also have a rubbing/grating noise when bending knees (crepitus) I’ve heard from others that it goes away after fixator removal, but it is definitely going to be a long road still, I have only crossed the halfway mark and it only keeps getting tougher and tougher. Being back home definitely does feel way way way better, but I am still at one of my top 3 lowest points I have ever been, mentally & emotionally. Being back home is the equivalent of having commissary and cigarettes in prison. It’s a big plus but still prison with these leg cuffs at the end of the day.
I have been slacking on physio since I have been home, I have been copying the exercises with my nephews but they are nowhere like a real physical therapist. I use stretching bands from Amazon and have been doing physio and stretching religiously for at least an hour every day. Stretching hard hurts at first but relieves a lot of lengthening pain so it’s a great trade off. Especially when doing some before and some after you lengthen. I’m scheduling a physical therapist this week to come
I highly regret not having the stretching bands from beginning, they would have helped a ton. They are a must have
Thank you for all your info/advice. Regarding your noise from bending knees - yes, I also heard from patients who has done lengthening surgery say that it goes away after fixator removal if not before.
-
Is IT band release always necessary in femur lengthening?
Just jumping in here to answer this. Yes, IT band release is deemed as necessary for lengthening over 3 cm. and since almost every patient lengthens over this limit, all LL doctors perform IT band release by default
-
Just jumping in here to answer this. Yes, IT band release is deemed as necessary for lengthening over 3 cm. and since almost every patient lengthens over this limit, all LL doctors perform IT band release by default
Thanks for the info. Does IT band release have any negative consequences?
https://regenexx.com/blog/iliotibial-band-itb-release-surgery/ (https://regenexx.com/blog/iliotibial-band-itb-release-surgery/)
-
Well, IT band release has as much negative consequences as anything else related to limb lengthening surgery i.e. its not ideal to alter a part of your body, but it’s not severely detrimental to the point of causing a disability or long term pain or discomfort.
With IT band release ordinary people won’t notice the difference post the lengthening and recover phase. But if you’re an athlete or have athletic aspirations, that’s when you will notice a difference in your performance.
If you want to know even more, pm me, don’t like spamming people’s thread
-
I wrote this over the course of the week so it might have wrong past/present tenses
Good news & bad news
my health insurance I purchased when I got back scheduled me virtually on zoom to see a doctor who referred me to an orthopedic doctor. I should have been able to see one a while ago but this was the earliest available, and the other in-network doctors were even later appointments ( I only paid a very small amount to see a doctor that my insurance picks, I have blue cross blue shield ). It’s stupid but I cannot see an orthopedic doctor directly, I have to be referred to one by a regular doctor for them to cover it ( they cover 70-80% of orthopedic and X-rays etc )
I went to the ER July 6 to get a free X-ray, I lied and said I bumped my left fixator hard and felt pain and they took an X-ray. I should have said I hit both sitting down or something because they refused to take an X-ray of my right since there wasn’t technically a problem with it. I was reminded of America’s crappy healthcare system, as I waited for 2 hours to see the doctor Then another 2 hours seeing them and getting the X-ray and discharged.
It was very weird seeing the doctor and the radiologist specifically. She seemed to guess why I had them on when she saw the fixators and the length of the bone gap. She poked questions constantly like “so why do you have fixators on” and stuff like that. I said it was to correct a deformity but they knew it was BS lol but they didn’t say so, they just kept asking me what deformity, I said very bowed femurs and I was kind of dodging/BSing them. Me personally, I don’t care for peoples opinion especially ones I will not see again so what does it matter.
I could have waited to get an X-ray or paid for one but I really wanted to see the X-ray of my left femur it’s been a while since the correction.
Plus I thought they were going to X-ray both legs, which would have been 350-450$ out of pocket. If I knew they were only going to do left I would have just done it myself. They said it looked fine and no problems at the ER. This is a picture of it taken 6 days ago, they didn’t measure the bone gap.
I should be or very close to 5cm in X-ray
https://imgur.com/gallery/Pi95pXF
However there was a problem they didn’t point out which was really stupid of them. I didn’t see the X-ray copy until a few days ago and freaked out because the side view of my femur shows bone split. I literally freaked out However after seeing the orthopedic doctor today she said it is fine and will heal normally back to straight on it’s own, as did doctor buldu. I’m guessing it fractured from correction surgery, I don’t know.
My nerves skyrocketed but calmed down now after the doctor I saw today said it’ll be fine. However it is a problem when I take my fixator off I am not 100% sure it will be able to support my weight at the top end.
It’s always one thing after another in my case.
https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
my terrible knee pain went away a week ago, after resting/icing/and most important staying off any strenuous activity on my right leg. I think what caused it was I would flip to my stomach or back, on the right side only. it never hurt to put body weight on the fixator but it caused the knee pain for sure from putting tension/weight on the fixator. The oral medicine voltaren/diclofenic sodium does not work good, but the cream version is amazing for the knee pain, it’s prescription only but my grandmother gave me hers, she doesn’t use it.
Mentally I am at a 8/10 pain level at times. I have major anxiety, it feels like I am holding my breath even when I am breathing. Especially at night.I haven’t had a comfortable sleep in months. I hate life at the moment, but am grateful it is not worse. I would give 1000$ to have just a week of good night sleep on my side. I am more comfortable here back in the states for sure, but being crippled with no comfort 24/7 due to these fixators has F’d my mind. If I don’t take a Xanax sometimes I feel like I am going to burst. The other night I punched my metal bed frame and cut my hand a little while sitting in bed.
Life sucks, but at least it’s not worse thankfully. I should be taking my fixators off end of this month however it seems like forever away and I am not even sure if I will be able to take off the left side yet.
2 of my pinsites got infected a few days ago and have been hurting terribly, my bottom left and my top right. I started antibiotics today, I can’t straight my right leg because it hurts so much at hip area, the muscle by pinsite is painfully swollen/inflamed. Hopefully will clear up in few days with antibiotics
-
I wrote this over the course of the week so it might have wrong past/present tenses
Good news & bad news
my health insurance I purchased when I got back scheduled me virtually on zoom to see a doctor who referred me to an orthopedic doctor. I should have been able to see one a while ago but this was the earliest available, and the other in-network doctors were even later appointments ( I only paid a very small amount to see a doctor that my insurance picks, I have blue cross blue shield ). It’s stupid but I cannot see an orthopedic doctor directly, I have to be referred to one by a regular doctor for them to cover it ( they cover 70-80% of orthopedic and X-rays etc )
I went to the ER July 6 to get a free X-ray, I lied and said I bumped my left fixator hard and felt pain and they took an X-ray. I should have said I hit both sitting down or something because they refused to take an X-ray of my right since there wasn’t technically a problem with it. I was reminded of America’s crappy healthcare system, as I waited for 2 hours to see the doctor Then another 2 hours seeing them and getting the X-ray and discharged.
It was very weird seeing the doctor and the radiologist specifically. She seemed to guess why I had them on when she saw the fixators and the length of the bone gap. She poked questions constantly like “so why do you have fixators on” and stuff like that. I said it was to correct a deformity but they knew it was BS lol but they didn’t say so, they just kept asking me what deformity, I said very bowed femurs and I was kind of dodging/BSing them. Me personally, I don’t care for peoples opinion especially ones I will not see again so what does it matter.
I could have waited to get an X-ray or paid for one but I really wanted to see the X-ray of my left femur it’s been a while since the correction.
Plus I thought they were going to X-ray both legs, which would have been 350-450$ out of pocket. If I knew they were only going to do left I would have just done it myself. They said it looked fine and no problems at the ER. This is a picture of it taken 6 days ago, they didn’t measure the bone gap.
I should be or very close to 5cm in X-ray
https://imgur.com/gallery/Pi95pXF
However there was a problem they didn’t point out which was really stupid of them. I didn’t see the X-ray copy until a few days ago and freaked out because the side view of my femur shows bone split. I literally freaked out However after seeing the orthopedic doctor today she said it is fine and will heal normally back to straight on it’s own, as did doctor buldu. I’m guessing it fractured from correction surgery, I don’t know.
My nerves skyrocketed but calmed down now after the doctor I saw today said it’ll be fine. However it is a problem when I take my fixator off I am not 100% sure it will be able to support my weight at the top end.
It’s always one thing after another in my case.
https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
my terrible knee pain went away a week ago, after resting/icing/and most important staying off any strenuous activity on my right leg. I think what caused it was I would flip to my stomach or back, on the right side only. it never hurt to put body weight on the fixator but it caused the knee pain for sure from putting tension/weight on the fixator. The oral medicine voltaren/diclofenic sodium does not work good, but the cream version is amazing for the knee pain, it’s prescription only but my grandmother gave me hers, she doesn’t use it.
Mentally I am at a 8/10 pain level at times. I have major anxiety, it feels like I am holding my breath even when I am breathing. Especially at night.I haven’t had a comfortable sleep in months. I hate life at the moment, but am grateful it is not worse. I would give 1000$ to have just a week of good night sleep on my side. I am more comfortable here back in the states for sure, but being crippled with no comfort 24/7 due to these fixators has F’d my mind. If I don’t take a Xanax sometimes I feel like I am going to burst. The other night I punched my metal bed frame and cut my hand a little while sitting in bed.
Life sucks, but at least it’s not worse thankfully. I should be taking my fixators off end of this month however it seems like forever away and I am not even sure if I will be able to take off the left side yet.
2 of my pinsites got infected a few days ago and have been hurting terribly, my bottom left and my top right. I started antibiotics today, I can’t straight my right leg because it hurts so much at hip area, the muscle by pinsite is painfully swollen/inflamed. Hopefully will clear up in few days with antibiotics
Your latest post made me sad though. Did you get better now ?
-
Your latest post made me sad though. Did you get better now ?
It doesn’t affect lengthening, but will affect locking the nail and will require extra healing. There’s a small chance it won’t support the nail being locked at the top, and at that point I don’t know what I will do. Possibly Either I won’t be able to weightbear on that leg for a little while longer after removalI think, or I will have to keep the fixator on until consolidation. I would choose not being able to weight bear on the leg, I don’t care I’m not keeping the fixator on. At this point I am so mentally fk’d from having it on, that it has cured my height neurosis because I don’t give a sh*t about anything other than getting back to normal, I am so depressed and have so much anxiety. I swear to god Sometimes I hit myself in the face because I can’t take it anymore, it’s been so long, I could quit early but then I will regret it even more that I went through all this and couldn’t finish strong in the last part. Even though the end is the shortest, you are drained. Just like that last few reps when you work out is harder than the first ten.
If it was on my lower legs it would not be anywhere as bad, but the femurs even with monorails is so fking tough it is worth every penny for precice in my opinion even if the recovery is much longer
-
Basically as long as I can weightbear when lock that nail that fracture is not a big deal and will heal straight and correctly on it’s own. I was relieved so much when I heard this, but a little overwhelmed again when I was told there’s a chance it can’t be locked or if it is locked I can’t weightbear on it
Also this is another opinion from parihar
https://imgur.com/gallery/c5O9Mo5
-
Hi bud, Wow you are going through a lot, aren't you? I'm really sorry you had to deal with this kind of complications. I belive if your journey was smoother, maybe the mental state you're in would have been better. I hope you overcome these obstacles successfully and regain your normal life. By the way, what did Dr. Buldu have to say about these complications?
-
You are almost there!
-
Hi bud, Wow you are going through a lot, aren't you? I'm really sorry you had to deal with this kind of complications. I belive if your journey was smoother, maybe the mental state you're in would have been better. I hope you overcome these obstacles successfully and regain your normal life. By the way, what did Dr. Buldu have to say about these complications?
Hey, yeah definitely the complications made it a lot worse. Especially since I lost few days of lengthening, days are like weeks in my situation. complications can happen to anyone. Even without the complications the femur fixators are killing my mental health from the start. Thanks a lot for your support, Hopefully the fracture doesn’t affect locking nail, if it doesn’t then I will be okay, buldu didn’t really say anything about them except how to solve them
As long as I can remove the fixators and lock the nail, the only loss from the complication would be the extra surgery suffering but it wouldn’t affect me in the long run or in terms of recovery. This is “if”
-
You are almost there!
Thanks bro, it truly does feel like it’s been forever with the suffering and fixators. Time feels like limbo when you have femur fixators. Every day is incredibly slow, and even though I am nearing taking them off soon god-willing, it still feels like forever away
-
Another update guys (currently at 6.2 +/- cm mark)
I wasn’t going to update till next week, but I wanted to post about yesterday, I almost got wiped off the planet. I went out with my wife and she was driving, and a speeding minivan ran the light and almost barreled into us. My wife slammed the brakes and we were .1 second away from hitting. It ended up hitting a car on the other lane beside us and spun and hit the curb by us. I thought I was done for. It’s really hard to stay home all the time mentally, but going out is risky because one car accident could ruin you because your legs are already so vulnerable. The car the minivan hit flipped on it’s side. Photo attached
https://imgur.com/gallery/rynY9vY
It truly was a terrifying experience, I had accepted that I was done when it was about to hit us
I am not doing so well physically because of a pinsite infection in my right leg on top and bottom pins. I’m not sure how I got it again, I don’t think it healed fully at top pin first time because it came back after 9-10 of stopping my antibiotics. It took an extra day to get a doctor appt and it was really bad at night, I could feel my foot throb and was very hard to get through the night.
I clean my bandages meticulously. I took stronger antibiotics and felt 40% relief within a day but I could not use my right leg for a few days because the inflammation and pain at the site.
The top had a lot of pain on the muscles in the area but not actual pin. The bottom just felt like the aftereffect of a bee/insect sting constantly on the pin. I could not keep my leg straight from the pain and it resulted in my right leg being 140-150 degrees bent when standing up. My left leg is straight. I got 20* of the ROM back of the right leg from excruciating painful stretching for 1 hr.
I started experiencing some tightness at 5cm mark and i am at the 6cm now and it’s really hitting hard because I have been doing self physio but it was enough to keep me from deterioration until this infection came. My insurance took forever to get me a physical therapist (free) my first day/session is this Tuesday.
Because of these circumstances above I would put more weight in my left leg but would feel some pain (like pressing a bruise) from the fracture area on my left leg after doing it for a few days, and my right leg got weaker from not using during infection even after healed. I took a shower today and stood up for 15 min and was exhausted after. Because ive been staying off my legs that one week made me atrophy muscle a lot. Once you hit 5-6cm it’s a battle to keep whatever remains of your flexibility/muscle. And if you get a pinsite infection there’s no hope at that point to do physio because the inflammation blocks your flexibility.
I forgot to mention in last update, I constantly go up stairs, even by myself. I have someone stand behind me to make sure nothing happens but they don’t assist. I went up 3 flights of apartments stairs today and yesterday. By using my upper body on the handrails, even when they are wide apart or it’s one rail it’s harder but still can by using mainly my upper body. Also the house I live in I am upstairs so I come up and down 3-4x a day. My upper body has got insanely strong from this, not muscle mass but grip/etc.
-
that's so scary! glad you're both okay and hope the folks in the minivan are okay too. also congrats on the length you've gained! it seems like its been a rollercoaster of a journey - wishing you well for the remainder of this process. i'm sure once you're all healed months/years from now, you'll be really happy with your outcome, no matter how much length you ultimately get.
-
Thank so much, it truly has been a rollercoaster and I still don’t know if I will be okay but I am really praying so, at this point I don’t think as much about the height I gained, you just worry about your recovery because that’s your priority
-
Think of the positives bro, it’ll outweigh the NEGS. Also, it seems to me you’re putting yourself at certain risk at times. I understand wanting to get out the house due to boredom but be careful man.
@6+ you’re so close, that should be your motivation, you’re close to been done and having the fixator removed. If it helps set a reminder on your phone that does a countdown for you so every day Siri tells you you’re x amount of days from having it removed. Might sound stupid but helps mentally.
I took my first walk without walker yesterday, felt really good. I can now walk without my walker albeit a rather atrocious gait 😂😂 my shoulders jump and sh8t lol it’s crazy but little things like that scream progress and that’s the the positives I’d say try and pay attention to.
-
Think of the positives bro, it’ll outweigh the NEGS. Also, it seems to me you’re putting yourself at certain risk at times. I understand wanting to get out the house due to boredom but be careful man.
@6+ you’re so close, that should be your motivation, you’re close to been done and having the fixator removed. If it helps set a reminder on your phone that does a countdown for you so every day Siri tells you you’re x amount of days from having it removed. Might sound stupid but helps mentally.
I took my first walk without walker yesterday, felt really good. I can now walk without my walker albeit a rather atrocious gait 😂😂 my shoulders jump and sh8t lol it’s crazy but little things like that scream progress and that’s the the positives I’d say try and pay attention to.
I already have a days countdown lmao, I look at it about every 15-20 minutes
My problem is I’m not 100% sure I will be able to remove the left fixator or if I can I don’t know I can weightbear depending on what the doctor says, but I’m trying to stay positive for sure
Walking without assistance feels good when you can do it, but once you hit the 4cm point+ you can’t because of atophy, or that was my case at least
-
I already have a days countdown lmao, I look at it about every 15-20 minutes
My problem is I’m not 100% sure I will be able to remove the left fixator or if I can I don’t know I can weightbear depending on what the doctor says, but I’m trying to stay positive for sure
Walking without assistance feels good when you can do it, but once you hit the 4cm point+ you can’t because of atophy, or that was my case at least
Lol i look at mines every other second.
As per not been able to bear weight you’ll be surprised what the body can do. Once the fixator is removed and the nail is locked in, I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to.
-
Thank so much, it truly has been a rollercoaster and I still don’t know if I will be okay but I am really praying so, at this point I don’t think as much about the height I gained, you just worry about your recovery because that’s your priority
that makes perfect sense. i'm not a doctor of course but i feel pretty confident everything will turn out fine! the complications sound tough and annoying but definitely treatable. the recovery may just take a bit longer, as you've expressed. but you're almost there - rooting for ya!
-
Lol i look at mines every other second.
As per not been able to bear weight you’ll be surprised what the body can do. Once the fixator is removed and the nail is locked in, I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to.
Because of the fracture on left leg, but I’m really really hoping it’ll be fine to lock at the top
-
@Activatedxx hope you are healing and feeling better bro. was their a reason you couldn't stay in turkey during the lengthening process? I was told I'd be looking at a 3 month stay in turkey if I was to get the Lon procedure.
-
@Activatedxx hope you are healing and feeling better bro. was their a reason you couldn't stay in turkey during the lengthening process? I was told I'd be looking at a 3 month stay in turkey if I was to get the Lon procedure.
He didn’t want to. Plus he had other reasons as to why he had to head back. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have gotten the surgery stay here for a week or maybe 2 and headed back home. You get so home sick amongst other things. But yeah plan for 3+ months buy a round trip ticket, seeing the countdown on your return ticket helps mentally plus it’s cheaper that way. I planned for 105 days but I’m gonna be done here in about three weeks by Gods grace then I’ll stay an additional 2 for physio then I’m out. 15 days earlier than I anticipated
-
@Activatedxx hope you are healing and feeling better bro. was their a reason you couldn't stay in turkey during the lengthening process? I was told I'd be looking at a 3 month stay in turkey if I was to get the Lon procedure.
Hey man, I’m currently trying to finish strong, it gets so much harder once you hit 6cm+ every half a cm gets exponentially harder. My right leg is going to need a good amount of physio, I can’t straighten fully, I believe it can’t keep up with lengthening. I did 1.5mm today and yesterday, but stopped as I feel much tighter and more pain, but hey I saved a day with these fixators on
I went back because I became extremely depressed and homesick, but mainly because my wife had to go back so I didn’t want to stay there alone. On top of that my business had a break-in (been there 5 years and my first time taking time off it gets broken into)
-
He didn’t want to. Plus he had other reasons as to why he had to head back. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have gotten the surgery stay here for a week or maybe 2 and headed back home. You get so home sick amongst other things. But yeah plan for 3+ months buy a round trip ticket, seeing the countdown on your return ticket helps mentally plus it’s cheaper that way. I planned for 105 days but I’m gonna be done here in about three weeks by Gods grace then I’ll stay an additional 2 for physio then I’m out. 15 days earlier than I anticipated
It’s definitely not what we anticipated
-
.
-
Hey guys, just dropping the xrays I took today
https://imgur.com/gallery/7lbrPVa
Not sure how accurate the measurement tool is but I am at 7cm mark +/-
I am extremely anxious to have these off, my quality of life feels like a mental crisis. My anxiety/depression is like a 8/10 constantly, I can’t even enjoy or think about any height gain because all I care about is getting these fixators off and trying to get back to normal and doing the things I love. We take the small things and blessings for granted so much, I would kill for just a hot bath and a good nights sleep on my side
I have some moderate ballerina foot, my hamstrings are very tight and I cannot extend my legs all the way, if I warm up it gets better and I can touch heels to the ground but my hamstrings need some work for sure, I am sure they got tight from wearing shoe lifts all these years, I will definitely need physio to correct this, lengthening is getting much harder at this mark. This last cm is going to be pretty tough, thankfully I have had zero nerve pain, which is really weird. Every couple days my right leg shin will fall asleep/turn numb for 30 min but besides that no nerve pain so far , may stop at 7.5 or may stop at 8
God willing I plan to do removal this coming week
-
Hi
I saw your XRAY - Left side the nail was touching the rod.
I guessed you were doing the correction on it.
May I know if this issue was due to LL operation fault or something else?
Did Dr. Buldu help to do the correction without any cost as mentioned?
Is this mistake done by him?
LEO
-
Do you have a heating pad. I heard heat draws blood too whatever area you have it at. Might help with healing.
-
Hey guys, just dropping the xrays I took today
https://imgur.com/gallery/7lbrPVa
Not sure how accurate the measurement tool is but I am at 7cm mark +/-
I am extremely anxious to have these off, my quality of life feels like a mental crisis. My anxiety/depression is like a 8/10 constantly, I can’t even enjoy or think about any height gain because all I care about is getting these fixators off and trying to get back to normal and doing the things I love. We take the small things and blessings for granted so much, I would kill for just a hot bath and a good nights sleep on my side
I have some moderate ballerina foot, my hamstrings are very tight and I cannot extend my legs all the way, if I warm up it gets better and I can touch heels to the ground but my hamstrings need some work for sure, I am sure they got tight from wearing shoe lifts all these years, I will definitely need physio to correct this, lengthening is getting much harder at this mark. This last cm is going to be pretty tough, thankfully I have had zero nerve pain, which is really weird. Every couple days my right leg shin will fall asleep/turn numb for 30 min but besides that no nerve pain so far , may stop at 7.5 or may stop at 8
God willing I plan to do removal this coming week
Hahah I laugh with you. My removal is in about a week as well. Fook I can’t wait gonna sleep on my side and stomach for a month straight.
-
Hey guys, just dropping the xrays I took today
https://imgur.com/gallery/7lbrPVa
Not sure how accurate the measurement tool is but I am at 7cm mark +/-
I am extremely anxious to have these off, my quality of life feels like a mental crisis. My anxiety/depression is like a 8/10 constantly, I can’t even enjoy or think about any height gain because all I care about is getting these fixators off and trying to get back to normal and doing the things I love. We take the small things and blessings for granted so much, I would kill for just a hot bath and a good nights sleep on my side
I have some moderate ballerina foot, my hamstrings are very tight and I cannot extend my legs all the way, if I warm up it gets better and I can touch heels to the ground but my hamstrings need some work for sure, I am sure they got tight from wearing shoe lifts all these years, I will definitely need physio to correct this, lengthening is getting much harder at this mark. This last cm is going to be pretty tough, thankfully I have had zero nerve pain, which is really weird. Every couple days my right leg shin will fall asleep/turn numb for 30 min but besides that no nerve pain so far , may stop at 7.5 or may stop at 8
God willing I plan to do removal this coming week
Congratulation brother, just my opinion you should concern about your callus growth, x-ray looking empty.
-
Congratulation brother, just my opinion you should concern about your callus growth, x-ray looking empty.
That is because in turkey they use the contrast tool to detect callus. The ER just gave me an unedited version of my X-ray. When I use the contrast tool my callus is very noticeable
https://imgur.com/gallery/AqPQURk
Pretty decent bridges^
Now that I am pretty much done distracting the bone it should be more solid in future X-rays
-
Hahah I laugh with you. My removal is in about a week as well. Fook I can’t wait gonna sleep on my side and stomach for a month straight.
Yeah man funny how something so small can drive you mentally fkd. Sleeping on my side is a necessity for me
-
Keep at it! :D Wishing you the best!
-
Keep at it! :D Wishing you the best!
Thanks for the support !
-
Quick update guys,
I am at the 8cm mark and have finished distracting
That last cm is definitely tough
Currently I am waiting to see if my insurance will cover removal here. If not I will have to fly back
To turkey. I should know in another week. It really sucks wasting this extra time with the frames, it’s terrible knowing I could have them off already but I have to wait.
If insurance covers however it will be much easier than me flying across the other side of the world and back.
-
Congratulations on 8 cm!!!! so happy for you bro. Its been a long road. Can you fell the difference when standing?
-
Congratulations on 8 cm!!!! so happy for you bro. Its been a long road. Can you fell the difference when standing?
Yes for sure, a lot in the mirror when standing next to my wife for comparison, and my brother in law that is 5’9 it feels like we are eye level now whenever I talk to him
-
Congrats!! A long rocky road for sure; hats off to you sir - nice work! 💪💪👍👍
-
Congrats!! A long rocky road for sure; hats off to you sir - nice work! 💪💪👍👍
I still really need to do removal, but thank you
-
finally you did it mate. eat well and try to move your legs and enjoy good sleep
-
Man LON IS hard man. To anyone considering it. I won’t say more than that. Just brace yourself for the immense world of pain you’re going to be in. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time.
-
Man LON IS hard man. To anyone considering it. I won’t say more than that. Just brace yourself for the immense world of pain you’re going to be in. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time.
Would you have went with PRECICE II if you could do it over again?
-
Hey guys, I had my fixator removal about 5 hours ago.
I will complete a more detailed update later on, for now just to summarize, I flew to Istanbul Friday night. Sunday morning I got to the hospital around 11am. It was the longest day, my surgery was last so around 8:30pm they took me to the operating room. Actually around 5pm they took me and then sent me back because the nurses were stupid and took the wrong patient. Mentally it was extremely hard day for me today. When they took me by accident the first time I saw a Chinese girl waking up getting wheeled out shivering and constantly repeating words pain/cold. This would be me shortly I thought. She had precice installed as I saw one of the nurses had a silver color box that had precice written on the side.
To the more important part, removal is NO joke
It was very painful. They locked the nails on each side, two screws from the side and on from the front of thigh, about ten inches above the knee.
I was moaning in pain ripping my hair out. My left leg hurt bad 6.5/10 but my right was was terribly painful 8.5/10. It varies person to person but seriously the removal is no joke, I didn’t find out how difficult it was until a few weeks ago when other people told me about it. I screamed when they transferred me on the bed. It took them a while to administer painkillers, I couldn’t keep track of time my eyes were closed and I was constantly moaning in pain.
I feel better now, at rest. My right leg hurts significantly if I move it. I already feel a lot more comfortable with the fixators off, and some of my tightness has been relieved.
I can’t believe they are actually off, it felt like I was stuck with them. This experience felt like it was a year long, not slightly under 90 days
-
Would you have went with PRECICE II if you could do it over again?
150% percent
*no painful removal surgery required
*100x more comfortable distraction
*no pinsite infections
*no risk of distal part of nail getting stuck like in my scenerio
-
Must feel good to get your legs back!
-
150% percent
*no painful removal surgery required
*100x more comfortable distraction
*no pinsite infections
*no risk of distal part of nail getting stuck like in my scenerio
300% + an additional 700%. Removal for me was Brutal ooof. But good . Mad jealous of you tho, Phuck I need to be home 🏡 like yesterday. I am not traveling out the country for at least 3 years to recover from this sh8t lol. In 4-5 days you’ll feel about 90% better tho.
-
Hey guys, I had my fixator removal about 5 hours ago.
I will complete a more detailed update later on, for now just to summarize, I flew to Istanbul Friday night. Sunday morning I got to the hospital around 11am. It was the longest day, my surgery was last so around 8:30pm they took me to the operating room. Actually around 5pm they took me and then sent me back because the nurses were stupid and took the wrong patient. Mentally it was extremely hard day for me today. When they took me by accident the first time I saw a Chinese girl waking up getting wheeled out shivering and constantly repeating words pain/cold. This would be me shortly I thought. She had precice installed as I saw one of the nurses had a silver color box that had precice written on the side.
To the more important part, removal is NO joke
It was very painful. They locked the nails on each side, two screws from the side and on from the front of thigh, about ten inches above the knee.
I was moaning in pain ripping my hair out. My left leg hurt bad 6.5/10 but my right was was terribly painful 8.5/10. It varies person to person but seriously the removal is no joke, I didn’t find out how difficult it was until a few weeks ago when other people told me about it. I screamed when they transferred me on the bed. It took them a while to administer painkillers, I couldn’t keep track of time my eyes were closed and I was constantly moaning in pain.
I feel better now, at rest. My right leg hurts significantly if I move it. I already feel a lot more comfortable with the fixators off, and some of my tightness has been relieved.
I can’t believe they are actually off, it felt like I was stuck with them. This experience felt like it was a year long, not slightly under 90 days
Any reason why they don't put you to sleep for this? Is that something that can be requested for removal. Seems barbaric to keep you awake for the removal if it's that painful.
-
Any reason why they don't put you to sleep for this? Is that something that can be requested for removal. Seems barbaric to keep you awake for the removal if it's that painful.
It was under general anesthesia, I meant when I woke up I was in very high pain.
Since removal my left leg has got better, but my right leg is very painful with any little movement. I cannot move it, I’m letting it heal but I will be in bed for the next days most likely
It was a big mistake to schedule my flight the day after removal, the only way I made it was the painkillers from the hospital hadn’t completely wore off and I took some tramadol. But it was still extremely difficult to get to the airport and on the plane. During the flight the pain starting increasing, painkillers were not helping. Mid way through the flight I had a lot of pain. It was a very terrible day for me, but now I am back home with my wife, I just have very high pain in my right leg
-
It was under general anesthesia, I meant when I woke up I was in very high pain.
Since removal my left leg has got better, but my right leg is very painful with any little movement. I cannot move it, I’m letting it heal but I will be in bed for the next days most likely
It was a big mistake to schedule my flight the day after removal, the only way I made it was the painkillers from the hospital hadn’t completely wore off and I took some tramadol. But it was still extremely difficult to get to the airport and on the plane. During the flight the pain starting increasing, painkillers were not helping. Mid way through the flight I had a lot of pain. It was a very terrible day for me, but now I am back home with my wife, I just have very high pain in my right leg
Why the rush to get back home? Do you think You'd have had a better outcome if you would have just stayed in turkey throughout the lengthening process? Flying on a plane from turkey to the US in a normal situation is brutal being such a long flight. So I know it had to be bad flying with frames and then being on a plane for such a long time.
-
Why the rush to get back home? Do you think You'd have had a better outcome if you would have just stayed in turkey throughout the lengthening process? Flying on a plane from turkey to the US in a normal situation is brutal being such a long flight. So I know it had to be bad flying with frames and then being on a plane for such a long time.
It was discomfortable but it made no difference in outcome. The doctor made a mistake from day one. I had the correction to replace the nail before I even left Turkey at all, even now with the frames off I have to wait another month before it’s safe to weight bear, because of my left femur split
I was in a rush to get home because of mental health. It was brutal but it hurt much more mentally staying there. People downplay how much of a toll it takes, the pain and constant discomfort of not being able to move freely/sit or sleep comfortably for months takes a very heavy toll on your mental health
-
Hi
I saw your XRAY - Left side the nail was touching the rod.
I guessed you were doing the correction on it.
May I know if this issue was due to LL operation fault or something else?
Did Dr. Buldu help to do the correction without any cost as mentioned?
Is this mistake done by him?
LEO
Buldu does the complication corrections at no cost. I didn’t pay for anything during correction, however it was from a mistake in the original surgery
-
It was under general anesthesia, I meant when I woke up I was in very high pain.
Since removal my left leg has got better, but my right leg is very painful with any little movement. I cannot move it, I’m letting it heal but I will be in bed for the next days most likely
It was a big mistake to schedule my flight the day after removal, the only way I made it was the painkillers from the hospital hadn’t completely wore off and I took some tramadol. But it was still extremely difficult to get to the airport and on the plane. During the flight the pain starting increasing, painkillers were not helping. Mid way through the flight I had a lot of pain. It was a very terrible day for me, but now I am back home with my wife, I just have very high pain in my right leg
You’ll get better in the next couple day’s bro. My right leg was dead before but I can move it now. There is always one leg that carries way more pain than the other for me it was my right. My left leg currently feels like nothing ever happened.
-
You’ll get better in the next couple day’s bro. My right leg was dead before but I can move it now. There is always one leg that carries way more pain than the other for me it was my right. My left leg currently feels like nothing ever happened.
Good to hear you're feeling a lot better bro
-
You’ll get better in the next couple day’s bro. My right leg was dead before but I can move it now. There is always one leg that carries way more pain than the other for me it was my right. My left leg currently feels like nothing ever happened.
Hey bro it’s been a few days and my right leg still has very high pain with movement. It’s like a tendon/sharp pain it knocks the breath out of me. Close to my IT band and by the screw lock sites. I have to use my hands to move my leg. It’s like completely limp. You think this is normal? My left leg feels fine
-
How is Muscat? He did LL too I’m told from website
-
Hey bro it’s been a few days and my right leg still has very high pain with movement. It’s like a tendon/sharp pain it knocks the breath out of me. Close to my IT band and by the screw lock sites. I have to use my hands to move my leg. It’s like completely limp. You think this is normal? My left leg feels fine
Absolutely normal. I still have 3/10 pain on my top pinsites, and frankly they feel inflated. I believe it will take some decent time for that to heal properly. I currently can’t close my legs so as per the IT Band tightness, you have to remember for 2.5 months we kept stretching muscles, nerves, etc. so it’s gotta heal and that won’t happen within the first month IM0.
As of Monday I couldn’t move my legs in a sitting position but now I can. You’re still fresh from removal so you’ll go through Some strangeness for the next week or two as you slowly regain mobility. Also, make sure your wife or someone is helping you with stretching and some form of PT...that stuff is important.
Today officially marks 1 week since removal. 😩🤩
-
Guys, I know this might not be the right place to ask this question, but since I see a couple of recent CLL patients here I thought I ask it. With knowing all the experiences associated with the surgery such as pain and sleepless nights and being uncomfortable, would you have gone through the process if you were to do it again?
-
Guys, I know this might not be the right place to ask this question, but since I see a couple of recent CLL patients here I thought I ask it. With knowing all the experiences associated with the surgery such as pain and sleepless nights and being uncomfortable, would you have gone through the process if you were to do it again?
Yes. Definitely not LoN , but even if you do LON ONce that pain leaves and your dopamine’ levels slowly start getting back to normal you start thinking more logical and less emotional.
But that doesn’t happen till after removal.
Knowing what I Know now, I’d have done tibia LON or Precise Femur, But oh well...we move.
-
Guys, I know this might not be the right place to ask this question, but since I see a couple of recent CLL patients here I thought I ask it. With knowing all the experiences associated with the surgery such as pain and sleepless nights and being uncomfortable, would you have gone through the process if you were to do it again?
I'd do it again 1,000%. The only difference is I would book my flight a little later to squeeze in a few extra mm.
-
Would you go for LON again or might consider Precise instead ? How is your ROM at the moment man ?
-
Yes. Definitely not LoN , but even if you do LON ONce that pain leaves and your dopamine’ levels slowly start getting back to normal you start thinking more logical and less emotional.
But that doesn’t happen till after removal.
Knowing what I Know now, I’d have done tibia LON or Precise Femur, But oh well...we move.
Personally I would never do it again on femur, precice all the way IMO
To late to change that now, already did it but if my prior self had the same knowledge I have now from experience
It’s decent in left leg, right leg still has moderate pain waiting for it to heal
-
Personally I would never do it again on femur, precice all the way IMO
To late to change that now, already did it but if my prior self had the same knowledge I have now from experience
It’s decent in left leg, right leg still has moderate pain waiting for it to heal
Precice has a longer recovery time vs LON though right? And doesn't it take longer to lengthen. Based on my conversation with Buldu both methods are pretty painful. I guess one is just less painful than the other.
-
Precice has a longer recovery time vs LON though right? And doesn't it take longer to lengthen. Based on my conversation with Buldu both methods are pretty painful. I guess one is just less painful than the other.
If there’s no complication with Lon yes, but actually (with my weight) I would have recovered much quicker with precice because of my complication. But even then, precice is much less painful. It’s just the nail with the screws locked at top and bottom, there is no bottom and top pins x4 each side. You can sleep comfortable, and there is no pinsites.
One of the most painful things was the pinsite infections and the removal surgery for me, but I think the most painful thing was actually the mental pain from having the fixator on for so long and not being able to have any comfort for months
-
Reading i realize the most important is being mentally prepared, because it not good leave istambul with fixator and being far from hospital and surgeon. And again i would no recomend leaving 1 o 2 days after fixator removal, i would stay at least a week. Luckily all will be fine and better soon for you mate. try to get good sleep and eat well
-
One week post removal update
Life is pretty hard. Since removal I stopped taking painkillers altogether, I went through a withdrawal where I would get very agitated and anxious and have serious mood swings/depression.
Because of my left femur I cannot weight bear for a couple more weeks. It was nice sleeping on my side however without painkillers sleeping is a lot harder. It’s easier to sleep now than with the fixators but My hips hurt after laying on my side.
My right leg pain is getting better, but has some muscle weakness and pain still. It was really bad post surgery until yesterday but now it’s just 4/10, really hoping things look better these coming weeks. Not sure if it’s the withdrawal but I was really regretful this week
-
One week post removal update
Life is pretty hard. Since removal I stopped taking painkillers altogether, I went through a withdrawal where I would get very agitated and anxious and have serious mood swings/depression.
Because of my left femur I cannot weight bear for a couple more weeks. It was nice sleeping on my side however without painkillers sleeping is a lot harder. It’s easier to sleep now than with the fixators but My hips hurt after laying on my side.
My right leg pain is getting better, but has some muscle weakness and pain still. It was really bad post surgery until yesterday but now it’s just 4/10, really hoping things look better these coming weeks. Not sure if it’s the withdrawal but I was really regretful this week
You can only get better from here on. Day 11 and I can stand and walk without aid, pace yourself and let your body heal, you shall be fine.
-
Precice has a longer recovery time vs LON though right? And doesn't it take longer to lengthen. Based on my conversation with Buldu both methods are pretty painful. I guess one is just less painful than the other.
Make no mistake with the comparison of pain as it's not even close.
Precise was designed for cosmetic limb lengthening, you are paying for convenience. 2 surgeries, virtually eliminating the infection of risk and knee contracture. Ultimately less pain.
LON (surgery1) you will have metal pins piercing through your fascia and muscles etc of the femur into the bone for approximately 80days depending on your goal, you will likely develop pin site infections and from what I've heard are quite severe.
Surgery2 fiaxtor removal
Surgery 3 nail removal
Surgery 4 If you decide to correct the scars and the concave dents on your Femur due to the external fiaxtors.
**** You may also require a 5th surgery depending on complications
Lengthening times for 8cm usually takes 3 months regardless of the chosen method.
I hope you can see the pain comparison.
All the best
-
Make no mistake with the comparison of pain as it's not even close.
Precise was designed for cosmetic limb lengthening, you are paying for convenience. 2 surgeries, virtually eliminating the infection of risk and knee contracture. Ultimately less pain.
LON (surgery1) you will have metal pins piercing through your fascia and muscles etc of the femur into the bone for approximately 80days depending on your goal, you will likely develop pin site infections and from what I've heard are quite severe.
Surgery2 fiaxtor removal
Surgery 3 nail removal
Surgery 4 If you decide to correct the scars and the concave dents on your Femur due to the external fiaxtors.
**** You may also require a 5th surgery depending on complications
Lengthening times for 8cm usually takes 3 months regardless of the chosen method.
I hope you can see the pain comparison.
All the best
Oh really? you had CLL done already? How would you say the pain was in your personal experience? Are you happy you went with Precice? You seem knowledgeable on both pain thresholds.
The surgery aspect was anecdotal. Precice requires 2 surgery’s and Lon requires 3. The cosmetic scar removal could be said for both but not required.
From all the threads I’ve read with precice it’s still pretty damn painful. Your bones are broken. Precice thrive in comfort as you can sleep better and move freely.
Base of the diaries both seem to be equally painful. Precice just provide you with more comfort and normalcy especially not having metal attached outside your leg. But that’s temporary for 1.5-2 months and will weight bear the entire time with LON.
Both options have give and take with Pro’s and Cons.
-
Oh really? you had CLL done already? How would you say the pain was in your personal experience? Are you happy you went with Precice? You seem knowledgeable on both pain thresholds.
The surgery aspect was anecdotal. Precice requires 2 surgery’s and Lon requires 3. The cosmetic scar removal could be said for both but not required.
From all the threads I’ve read with precice it’s still pretty damn painful. Your bones are broken. Precice thrive in comfort as you can sleep better and move freely.
Base of the diaries both seem to be equally painful. Precice just provide you with more comfort and normalcy especially not having metal attached outside your leg. But that’s temporary for 1.5-2 months and will weight bear the entire time with LON.
Both options have give and take with Pro’s and Cons.
misalignment , Infection, restricted ROM, soft tissues damage is bigger in LON FEMUR , PRECICE is much better and safe than LON femur keep it that in mind.
-
misalignment , Infection, restricted ROM, soft tissues damage is bigger in LON FEMUR , PRECICE is much better and safe than LON femur keep it that in mind.
What if you have valgus deformity and you want to both lengthen and do valgus correction in the femur is LON then better than Precise?
-
What if you have valgus deformity and you want to both lengthen and do valgus correction in the femur is LON then better than Precise?
with LON Valgus can't be corrected. TSF is better option only for correction . if you have time and money for for correction first and later do precice for lengthening.
-
with LON Valgus can't be corrected. TSF is better option only for correction . if you have time and money for for correction first and later do precice for lengthening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZPHPropyV0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZPHPropyV0) . I know it isn't LON - but maybe you could do LAN.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZPHPropyV0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZPHPropyV0) . I know it isn't LON - but maybe you could do LAN.
Basically this is good if you have valgus and shortening of femur is less than 2 cm in one leg.For correction and lengthening 8 cm with this method is not a good Idea.
-
misalignment , Infection, restricted ROM, soft tissues damage is bigger in LON FEMUR , PRECICE is much better and safe than LON femur keep it that in mind.
WOW really? When did you have the LON procedure? Are you still recovering? What made you go with LON instead of Precice?
-
What if you have valgus deformity and you want to both lengthen and do valgus correction in the femur is LON then better than Precise?
Bob you can correct bow legs while doing LON. I think You've asked this before. If not theres a discussion on in in the other discussion section. Don't Hijack this thread with your random questions though.
-
with LON Valgus can't be corrected. TSF is better option only for correction . if you have time and money for for correction first and later do precice for lengthening.
Wrong. The surgery Can be done at the same time. been in contact with 2 people that have had LON with knee valves correction. Lon itself doesn't fix the issue. Theirs 2 different processes that are done at the same time while they have you cut open already. The problem people have with you is you haven't experienced any of this stuff yourself and you speak with such confidence, but you have no idea what you're talking about. I compare it to someone teaching you how to drive, but never owned a license and only know what they've read from the Driver's ed manual with no real world experience. Then you keep talking to folks that don't want you addressing them. Theirs no block feature on here unfortunately, so we have to put up with it.
-
@ Growing
By no means am I "anti LON" and my point was it's quite clear that the pain is significantly different.
Again all the best with your procedure.
-
Oh really? you had CLL done already? How would you say the pain was in your personal experience? Are you happy you went with Precice? You seem knowledgeable on both pain thresholds.
The surgery aspect was anecdotal. Precice requires 2 surgery’s and Lon requires 3. The cosmetic scar removal could be said for both but not required.
From all the threads I’ve read with precice it’s still pretty damn painful. Your bones are broken. Precice thrive in comfort as you can sleep better and move freely.
Base of the diaries both seem to be equally painful. Precice just provide you with more comfort and normalcy especially not having metal attached outside your leg. But that’s temporary for 1.5-2 months and will weight bear the entire time with LON.
Both options have give and take with Pro’s and Cons.
Brother your opinion will change if you go through with it trust me. Precice you will feel fine after the first 4-5 days and there is no pain from Pin installation x4 each side. LON is having knives in your sides for months, and the removal is painful
And there is no risk of the distal part of the nail getting stuck which happened to me and another patient while lengthening, it made my femur break even more. Although it will heal on it’s own it’s another risk along with knee flexion contracture etc
-
Bro people still feel plenty of pain when doing precise. Diaries here AND the patients doing precise at the Turkish hotel all felt some serious pain. The procedure is the same bro.
A lot of nerve and muscle pain. But they don’t have pain from infections which must be really f’in nice. Infection pain is, as Activated said, like KNIVES stabbing your legs. This is no joke it’s so painful I was terrified of moving. Antibiotics can help resolve it in 3-5 days
-
Brother your opinion will change if you go through with it trust me. Precice you will feel fine after the first 4-5 days and there is no pain from Pin installation x4 each side. LON is having knives in your sides for months, and the removal is painful
And there is no risk of the distal part of the nail getting stuck which happened to me and another patient while lengthening, it made my femur break even more. Although it will heal on it’s own it’s another risk along with knee flexion contracture etc
I get it but people are acting like thiers zero pain after the first week with precise or complications. Im literally reading one now where the guy leg literally snapped in half a year later.. ouch. Another journal I was reading one leg stopped growing (the Precice nail DID get stuck) so he had to get the leg re-broken (at extra cost) to fix it and they've all had pain, even 2 years later. All these journals are on here right now. They just have been skipped over because they are from 2-3 years ago. But I read everything. I know Lon is painful but everyone saying things haven't had precice. that's all im saying. Im not just looking at recent years journals im going 5-7 years back to see how these things turned out.
And theirs not many journals with the side rail type LON frames. its very recent and less than 4 people on here so we really don't know its long term affects. From my accesment majority of journals here are Pricice, Betz nail, iliarov, and stryde. All these methods came with many issues and some scary based off the journals I've read. When it comes to Lon the only Journals are Meck, Perfect Body, and activatedxx. I know fivefootsomething as well but he don't have a journal. And I wouldn't count Meck because his lengthening was extreme. Theirs not enough long term data of people here who's done LON on here to say what the future would look like post op vs the 100's of other methods that have years of post op follow up posts.
It sucks that happened Acttivatedxxx. And hell I might have a complication myself. But theres no guarantee things would have been smooth sailing if you took another method to lengthen like I mentioned above. And those 2 cases of precice I mentioned, I wasn't even searching for it. I just was reading ol journals and saw it happened. And that's 2 out of the 5 precice journals I've read so far.
-
Bro people still feel plenty of pain when doing precise. Diaries here AND the patients doing precise at the Turkish hotel all felt some serious pain. The procedure is the same bro.
A lot of nerve and muscle pain. But they don’t have pain from infections which must be really f’in nice. Infection pain is, as Activated said, like KNIVES stabbing your legs. This is no joke it’s so painful I was terrified of moving. Antibiotics can help resolve it in 3-5 days
This is exactly what I'm saying. I agree. from the Journals I've read people who had precice had lots of pain AND some have had major complications. Thats why read the journals. It literally tells you the true story vs heresay.
-
I get it but people are acting like thiers zero pain after the first week with precise or complications. Im literally reading one now where the guy leg literally snapped in half a year later.. ouch. Another journal I was reading one leg stopped growing (the Precice nail DID get stuck) so he had to get the leg re-broken (at extra cost) to fix it and they've all had pain, even 2 years later. All these journals are on here right now. They just have been skipped over because they are from 2-3 years ago. But I read everything. I know Lon is painful but everyone saying things haven't had precice. that's all im saying. Im not just looking at recent years journals im going 5-7 years back to see how these things turned out.
And theirs not many journals with the side rail type LON frames. its very recent and less than 4 people on here so we really don't know its long term affects. From my accesment majority of journals here are Pricice, Betz nail, iliarov, and stryde. All these methods came with many issues and some scary based off the journals I've read. When it comes to Lon the only Journals are Meck, Perfect Body, and activatedxx. I know fivefootsomething as well but he don't have a journal. And I wouldn't count Meck because his lengthening was extreme. Theirs not enough long term data of people here who's done LON on here to say what the future would look like post op vs the 100's of other methods that have years of post op follow up posts.
It sucks that happened Acttivatedxxx. And hell I might have a complication myself. But theres no guarantee things would have been smooth sailing if you took another method to lengthen like I mentioned above. And those 2 cases of precice I mentioned, I wasn't even searching for it. I just was reading ol journals and saw it happened. And that's 2 out of the 5 precice journals I've read so far.
Most people don’t make diaries, when I was at bof I met 20+ patients and there were 60+ there at one time, some from other doctors like muharam inam but mostly from Buldu.
Anyways, current version of precice is the revised nail, precice 2.2, but I’m saying the pinsite infections (which you will 100% get) and not being able to sleep except flat on your back with your feet straight out alone will make you regret doing Lon, at least it did for me.
-
Most people don’t make diaries, when I was at bof I met 20+ patients and there were 60+ there at one time, some from other doctors like muharam inam but mostly from Buldu.
Anyways, current version of precice is the revised nail, precice 2.2, but I’m saying the pinsite infections (which you will 100% get) and not being able to sleep except flat on your back with your feet straight out alone will make you regret doing Lon, at least it did for me.
Did you notice any difference in recoveries of patients who had lon femur? Having the pins tear through muscle I imagine would hinder long term recovery.
-
Did you notice any difference in recoveries of patients who had lon femur? Having the pins tear through muscle I imagine would hinder long term recovery.
Can’t tell only people with precice there were 2 Chinese girls and almost all the rest were Lon femur
-
Small update, I start physio in 5 hours, trying to go sleep as I write this. I have insomnia now so sometimes I just pull all-nighters, just started trying melatonin for sleep.
After removal I had that immense pain in my right leg, my left leg was fine. I’m very happy it went away, I couldn’t straight or bend my knee without 8/10 pain knee the side screw lock sites.
Due to this I wasn’t able to use my right leg or exercise it and got a knee flexion contracture, hopefully it will resolve with sessions of physio. I cant straighten my right leg it’s bent so I lost alot of ROM due to post surgery pain and recovery
I went to the gym and used the stationary bike for 10 min and some of the leg press machines with my body weight, my legs are exhausted
I went to work two days ago and it was 60% productivity, I repair electronics so my job can be done by sitting down. However it was exhausting because the night before I could not sleep and had to pull an all nighter, I’ve been completely cold Turkey on painkillers and sleep aids besides melatonin since fixator removal, trying to train my body to go back pre op
-
Man that was interesting to read. I would also add that PT is absolutely necessary POST. I thought I was gonna be okrrt and just watch videos and do the exercises myself but man was that a lie.
Bunch of people probably remove the fixators and continue their normal life hence why their recovery could be longer and/or their outcome not the best.
I know finances has a lot to play in it as well.
The surgery is a long process, it doesn’t stop when you stop lengthening or go back to your home, for me it stops when I’m able to do things I did PRE without assistance. Not just walking or jogging.
-
WOW really? When did you have the LON procedure? Are you still recovering? What made you go with LON instead of Precice?
Lol the sacarsm.
Dude is the most educated scholar when it comes to LL. He has more knowledge than the doctors /surgeons that have spent years training to perform the surgery and far more experience than the patients that have undergone the surgery.
Everything he says is Facts and shouldn’t be questioned. I’d Kick the sh8t outta him if I could kick 🥴.
-
Lol the sacarsm.
Dude is the most educated scholar when it comes to LL. He has more knowledge than the doctors /surgeons that have spent years training to perform the surgery and far more experience than the patients that have undergone the surgery.
Everything he says is Facts and shouldn’t be questioned. I’d Kick the sh8t outta him if I could kick 🥴.
LOL..LMAOO!! Word bro!! So Annoying!! Wish we could block people on here like reddit and Facebook.. lol.
-
Update:
This is my last update for a little while, sorry if I don’t reply to messages I’ve been very busy as I’ve returned to work and have physical therapy and other things to do everyday.
So I started physical therapy, they did an evaluation of my ROM for every muscle (hips, hams, quads etc). It’s definitely tough, they worked me like a dog during the sessions. It’s gonna be a long road to recovery, because just when you think the hard part is over here comes another hard part. It’s still pretty hard to sleep, all my muscles are tight hips/hams etc so my body is very stiff waist down and I cannot get in a very comfortable position even with the fixators off. My hips hurt after laying on them for 20-30 min. Sitting down hurts and your butt gets sore after 20-30min even on a pillow, because of muscle loss it feels like you’re sitting on your bones. This is no walk in the part and I have my work cut out for me. I was given home exercises to do today daily
https://imgur.com/a/IPdYyrA
I am still not walking unassisted due to my right knee contracture and also to be safe because buldu said to wait a few weeks before pressing full weight on left leg.
Hopefully next time I update this diary I will be walking decently and unassisted, I am logging off until then
-
Update:
This is my last update for a little while, sorry if I don’t reply to messages I’ve been very busy as I’ve returned to work and have physical therapy and other things to do everyday.
So I started physical therapy, they did an evaluation of my ROM for every muscle (hips, hams, quads etc). It’s definitely tough, they worked me like a dog during the sessions. It’s gonna be a long road to recovery, because just when you think the hard part is over here comes another hard part. It’s still pretty hard to sleep, all my muscles are tight hips/hams etc so my body is very stiff waist down and I cannot get in a very comfortable position even with the fixators off. My hips hurt after laying on them for 20-30 min. Sitting down hurts and your butt gets sore after 20-30min even on a pillow, because of muscle loss it feels like you’re sitting on your bones. This is no walk in the part and I have my work cut out for me. I was given home exercises to do today daily
https://imgur.com/a/IPdYyrA
I am still not walking unassisted due to my right knee contracture and also to be safe because buldu said to wait a few weeks before pressing full weight on left leg. Anyone already going through the process already NEVER skip physical therapy and exercises, you condition can deteriorate like crazy in just 2-3 days of inactivity/lack of physical therapy once you are past the 5cm mark. In one of of inactivity after frame removal I lost 25 degrees of rom on my right leg, I cannot straight it because of that so learn from my mistake, i cannot stress that professional PT will make or break your success majority of the time
Hopefully next time I update this diary I will be walking decently and unassisted, I am logging off until then
-
This surgeon thought I was 6’1 😭. One more person says that I’m no longer identifying as 5’10. Lool.
-
Update:
This is my last update for a little while, sorry if I don’t reply to messages I’ve been very busy as I’ve returned to work and have physical therapy and other things to do everyday.
So I started physical therapy, they did an evaluation of my ROM for every muscle (hips, hams, quads etc). It’s definitely tough, they worked me like a dog during the sessions. It’s gonna be a long road to recovery, because just when you think the hard part is over here comes another hard part. It’s still pretty hard to sleep, all my muscles are tight hips/hams etc so my body is very stiff waist down and I cannot get in a very comfortable position even with the fixators off. My hips hurt after laying on them for 20-30 min. Sitting down hurts and your butt gets sore after 20-30min even on a pillow, because of muscle loss it feels like you’re sitting on your bones. This is no walk in the part and I have my work cut out for me. I was given home exercises to do today daily
https://imgur.com/a/IPdYyrA
I am still not walking unassisted due to my right knee contracture and also to be safe because buldu said to wait a few weeks before pressing full weight on left leg.
Hopefully next time I update this diary I will be walking decently and unassisted, I am logging off until then
Thank you for posting your journey, I'm sure it has been useful for many.
During your evaluation was there any indication as to whether you are likely to regain your previous mobility/ROM or anything close, or is it too early to gauge?
Best
-
Thank you for posting your journey, I'm sure it has been useful for many.
During your evaluation was there any indication as to whether you are likely to regain your previous mobility/ROM or anything close, or is it too early to gauge?
Best
Way to early to gauge, two days ago my opinion would have different. After physio and swimming daily for a few days I’ve had significant improvement. I would think I could, because I did not do much exercise etc pre-op. If you’re talking about my prime I would highly highly highly doubt it, in high school I was a state-ranking wrestler and I doubt I could have the same explosiveness, but I would think I could get back to pre-op condition when I was not really that fit
This is speculation but I believe 5-6cm you can recover very well, 7-8cm is kind of a lot. I only did 8 because paley says it’s the max safe limit but now that I’ve done 8 I realized how much it actually is.
I went to the club today in crutches lol
-
Way to early to gauge, two days ago my opinion would have different. After physio and swimming daily for a few days I’ve had significant improvement. I would think I could, because I did not do much exercise etc pre-op. If you’re talking about my prime I would highly highly highly doubt it, in high school I was a state-ranking wrestler and I doubt I could have the same explosiveness, but I would think I could get back to pre-op condition when I was not really that fit
This is speculation but I believe 5-6cm you can recover very well, 7-8cm is kind of a lot. I only did 8 because paley says it’s the max safe limit but now that I’ve done 8 I realized how much it actually is.
I went to the club today in crutches lol
Does Paley say 8 cm is safe limit with LON Femur?. I doubt. I think you are misquoted Paley here
-
Does Paley say 8 cm is safe limit with LON Femur?. I doubt. I think you are misquoted Paley here
With internal nail, however even with internal nail/Lon femur it feels like 8cm makes your femurs very long. Same thing. My femurs are the same length as my 180cm friend I noticed when sitting down. It doesn’t look bad, actually I like how it looks. Longer legs make your proportions look better. I’m saying once you hit 6cm that felt like the normal max for me, my legs were already looking long at 6 now they look very long, regardless of method I’m not sure how well your muscles will adapt to an 8cm lengthening, 8cm is a pretty high amount of lengthening
-
That is why I’m afraid to do full 8cm~~
5 cm is what I aim for personal
Do you notice it looks off proportion from side profile of your body? Femur to tib ratio, especially when bending knees? Like knees are very low
Does being nkkd exagerate it?
-
Does Paley say 8 cm is safe limit with LON Femur?. I doubt. I think you are misquoted Paley here
In the presentation Paley gives regarding why he limited the precise 2 nail from being allowed to lengthen over 8cm he never stated that 8cm was the "safe max" or anything close to that. He said problems rise exponentially over 8cm but patients wanted more than the 6.5cm the original precise nail allowed. So it is more of a compromise that he allows 8cm than any sort of "safe max".
-
That is why I’m afraid to do full 8cm~~
5 cm is what I aim for personal
As somebody who has done 5cm, let me assure you that your recovery will be perfect. Almost too perfect - after a month you will be ready to walk again. I recommend 6cm, just so you can leave knowing feeling very accomplished.
-
As somebody who has done 5cm, let me assure you that your recovery will be perfect. Almost too perfect - after a month you will be ready to walk again. I recommend 6cm, just so you can leave knowing feeling very accomplished.
Are you happy with the 5?
-
As somebody who has done 5cm, let me assure you that your recovery will be perfect. Almost too perfect - after a month you will be ready to walk again. I recommend 6cm, just so you can leave knowing feeling very accomplished.
Very reassuring. 6 may be max of my aim. Biggest concern is proportion,recovery, and safety.
-
Are you happy with the 5?
I am 1 million percent happier being 5cm taller. Would I be happier with even more? Of course, who wouldn't.
Very reassuring. 6 may be max of my aim. Biggest concern is proportion,recovery, and safety.
In all politeness, nobody gives a sh*t about proportions. Please don't fool yourself bro. At the end of the day, your standing height is all people really care about. And an extra 2 inches anywhere won't make you look strange (unless the section you are lengthening was already long to begin with).
Recovery depends on how much PT you are doing before, during, and after the procedure.
Safety? Throw that out the window too. All of this is dangerous - that's the price we pay for greatness.
-
I am 1 million percent happier being 5cm taller. Would I be happier with even more? Of course, who wouldn't.
In all politeness, nobody gives a sh*t about proportions. Please don't fool yourself bro. At the end of the day, your standing height is all people really care about. And an extra 2 inches anywhere won't make you look strange (unless the section you are lengthening was already long to begin with).
Recovery depends on how much PT you are doing before, during, and after the procedure.
Safety? Throw that out the window too. All of this is dangerous - that's the price we pay for greatness.
Yeah I can not stress how much physical therapy and inactivity will make or break your success. I developed a flexion contracture on my right leg from not doing PT and after 1 week of PT it’s Halfway gone but it’s a punch in the d*** trying to get rid of it, the stretching and exercises are difficult af.
Lack of physical therapy and inactivity will make you develop deformities/contractures and imbalances which are hard and painful to correct, especially after 5cm mark.
Doing PT helps you retain ROM and prevent problems, instead of having problems and then trying to correct them which wastes so much recovery time
I am also much less stiff since starting pt after the frame removal and can sleep so much better and am so much more comfortable. Obviously nowhere as close as comfort to Pre-op but when you’re stiff waist down it really affects your sleep. I can sleep 7-8 hrs a night finally without melatonin even. I do wake up every couple hours usually to turn or something but compared to the last 100 days this is the best I’ve ever been mentally since starting this process
-
I am 1 million percent happier being 5cm taller. Would I be happier with even more? Of course, who wouldn't.
In all politeness, nobody gives a sh*t about proportions. Please don't fool yourself bro. At the end of the day, your standing height is all people really care about. And an extra 2 inches anywhere won't make you look strange (unless the section you are lengthening was already long to begin with).
Recovery depends on how much PT you are doing before, during, and after the procedure.
Safety? Throw that out the window too. All of this is dangerous - that's the price we pay for greatness.
Bigger is not always better, especially for beauty. Proportionality and symmetry are important factors. Even inspired the Vitruvian man standard of beauty. 8cm is the edge of proportion normalcy in concern with proportion, as far as what I see here on the diaries. For most people at least. Always outliers. Again, just my opinion. Beauty is in the eye of beholder.
-
Mate you went big, you went hard and you nailed it! Good stuff in another six months you'll look back and laugh while swimming in a pool of vaginas and success #player
-
Mate you went big, you went hard and you nailed it! Good stuff in another six months you'll look back and laugh while swimming in a pool of vaginas and success #player
Thanks for the encouragement bro
-
Bigger is not always better, especially for beauty. Proportionality and symmetry are important factors. Even inspired the Vitruvian man standard of beauty. 8cm is the edge of proportion normalcy in concern with proportion, as far as what I see here on the diaries. For most people at least. Always outliers. Again, just my opinion. Beauty is in the eye of beholder.
In my opinion 8cm femurs looks very good except when nked from the side profile, it’s not really bad even when nked. With clothes it looks good actually especially when sitting down
-
hide this comment from his wife ;D ;D ;D
-
hide this comment from his wife ;D ;D ;D
Please lol
-
Quick update
It’s been about a few weeks since removal, Buldu said wait 2-3 weeks before full weight bearing, in terms of recovery I’m getting there. I can take like 15-20 steps unassisted but walk like a penguin because my hips are tight it makes my lower back arch and my pelvis tilt forward, my flexion contracture is 75% gone. My PT said my glutes are very weak, and my hip flexors are very tight. So that is the main obstacle for my recovery. Those are essential to walking and more importantly posture from tight hips.
My complication leg/left leg used to be my dominant leg but after removal it’s weaker now. I have slight pain near top pin removal site and one spot by break site when pressing on it with my finger, I think one of the screws are there, and moving it certain angles I get 2/10 pain, but not on other leg. My right leg gave me so much more discomfort/pain during lengthening but now it is the more quickly healed one.
Life is liveable at the moment. I don’t need any meds at all, and sleep somewhat comfortably, but can’t get in many comfortable positions like before because of hip tightness. It’s not close to as enjoyable as before but it’s so much better than the distraction period. I can get around independently with crutches. I drive to work every day. 70% productivity. At the end of the day my legs are done for usually, it does get exhausting especially on PT days after strengthening exercises. I try to be extra careful always, almost tripped a few times with crutches because of a wet spot or someone accidentally bumping into me.
The recovery for 5-6cm is probably 1/3 hard as doing the full 8, unless you do the PT and stretches constantly and daily. However with LON femur I couldn’t because the pinsite infections make PT impossible and even without them, when you pass 5-6cm the pins feel so tight and hurts when you stretch hard or at least for me.
Although this update doesn’t sound great, it is for me. I see so much progress after 2 weeks of PT. Every session has and shows slight progress. Within a week I could barely stand up long enough unassisted in the shower for 5min to being able to stand for 10-15 min without getting more than slightly tired.
I missed my birthday during the end of lengthening! Ended up renting a limo and having some crippled fun. My femurs look pretty long sitting down and I like the look, maybe not in this picture because the pants are baggy and sagging under my waist. I lost weight and am gaining it back. But with slim jeans it looks good especially sitting down.
https://imgur.com/a/VcKLdwc
Also hung out with one of the other lengthening patient I met in turkey a few days ago. He lives about 30min away from me, crazy that we both went at the same time from the same city, I guess at some point we’ve probably met someone with cll without knowing possibly. I meet so many people every day at work etc and they would never even know!
-
Quick update
It’s been about a few weeks since removal, Buldu said wait 2-3 weeks before full weight bearing, in terms of recovery I’m getting there. I can take like 15-20 steps unassisted but walk like a penguin because my hips are tight it makes my lower back arch and my pelvis tilt forward, my flexion contracture is 75% gone. My PT said my glutes are very weak, and my hip flexors are very tight. So that is the main obstacle for my recovery. Those are essential to walking and more importantly posture from tight hips.
My complication leg/left leg used to be my dominant leg but after removal it’s weaker now. I have slight pain near top pin removal site and one spot by break site when pressing on it with my finger, I think one of the screws are there, and moving it certain angles I get 2/10 pain, but not on other leg. My right leg gave me so much more discomfort/pain during lengthening but now it is the more quickly healed one.
Life is liveable at the moment. I don’t need any meds at all, and sleep somewhat comfortably, but can’t get in many comfortable positions like before because of hip tightness. It’s not close to as enjoyable as before but it’s so much better than the distraction period. I can get around independently with crutches. I drive to work every day. 70% productivity. At the end of the day my legs are done for usually, it does get exhausting especially on PT days after strengthening exercises. I try to be extra careful always, almost tripped a few times with crutches because of a wet spot or someone accidentally bumping into me.
The recovery for 5-6cm is probably 1/3 hard as doing the full 8, unless you do the PT and stretches constantly and daily. However with LON femur I couldn’t because the pinsite infections make PT impossible and even without them, when you pass 5-6cm the pins feel so tight and hurts when you stretch hard or at least for me.
Although this update doesn’t sound great, it is for me. I see so much progress after 2 weeks of PT. Every session has and shows slight progress. Within a week I could barely stand up long enough unassisted in the shower for 5min to being able to stand for 10-15 min without getting more than slightly tired.
I missed my birthday during the end of lengthening! Ended up renting a limo and having some crippled fun. My femurs look pretty long sitting down and I like the look, maybe not in this picture because the pants are baggy and sagging under my waist. I lost weight and am gaining it back. But with slim jeans it looks good especially sitting down.
https://imgur.com/a/VcKLdwc
Also hung out with one of the other lengthening patient I met in turkey a few days ago. He lives about 30min away from me, crazy that we both went at the same time from the same city, I guess at some point we’ve probably met someone with cll without knowing possibly. I meet so many people every day at work etc and they would never even know!
Congrats man, and happy belated birthday. I think you looks great in the photo. Good to see you living your best life not letting this recovery slow you down. And you're pretty lucky to have such a supportive wife and family, that part I lack. How's the guy from your city recovering? Did he hit 8cm as well? What do people at your work think you've done? Coming form an office environment myself, I know co-workers can be very nosey. I'd be surprised if they weren't asking why your walk is different now.
-
Congrats man, and happy belated birthday. I think you looks great in the photo. Good to see you living your best life not letting this recovery slow you down. And you're pretty lucky to have such a supportive wife and family, that part I lack. How's the guy from your city recovering? Did he hit 8cm as well? What do people at your work think you've done? Coming form an office environment myself, I know co-workers can be very nosey. I'd be surprised if they weren't asking why your walk is different now.
Thanks man. Honestly I kept it a secret until the day after my surgery I told my family.
The other guy is a little ahead of me in recovery, he did 6.5cm. I’m a business owner and I just tell my employee I had a car accident. People might not say something but they notice. One of my friends that is 5’7 saw me for the first time and he was like bro how did you grow so much. He would not stop mentioning for a while and kept asking how. Was pretty suspicious. Not everyone is like that, mainly people that are your height or 2-4 inches above you are going to notice. But I hadn’t seen anyone in months, a lot of people will brush it off but there will be a few that are suspicious but will brush it off. Even if they know about LL I doubt they’ll automatically assume and their is no way to prove it anyways so who cares
-
I hope everything goes well with you, you'll see that in a while you'll be better. One question, if you had known you were going to go through all this, would you have preferred to go for 5-6 in TIBIAS, or are you still adamant that it was a good decision to go for femurs?
-
I hope everything goes well with you, you'll see that in a while you'll be better. One question, if you had known you were going to go through all this, would you have preferred to go for 5-6 in TIBIAS, or are you still adamant that it was a good decision to go for femurs?
Tibias. Way Less muscle to stretch there and way less inconvenient in terms of comfort. All LL is very difficult but LON femurs is something that belongs in a scary movie
-
Thanks man. Honestly I kept it a secret until the day after my surgery I told my family.
The other guy is a little ahead of me in recovery, he did 6.5cm. I’m a business owner and I just tell my employee I had a car accident. People might not say something but they notice. One of my friends that is 5’7 saw me for the first time and he was like bro how did you grow so much. He would not stop mentioning for a while and kept asking how. Was pretty suspicious. Not everyone is like that, mainly people that are your height or 2-4 inches above you are going to notice. But I hadn’t seen anyone in months, a lot of people will brush it off but there will be a few that are suspicious but will brush it off. Even if they know about LL I doubt they’ll automatically assume and their is no way to prove it anyways so who cares
I should of stuck to my original idea of not telling a soul until after the procedure. Thats where I messed up..lol. That have to be a cool feeling for your friend to obviously notice you are taller.. He's probably a bit envious.. lol. Does people noticing or the felling of being taller make it all worth it for you in the end. Would you do it all over again? And its crazy how 1.5cm can make a difference in recovery time.
-
I should of stuck to my original idea of not telling a soul until after the procedure. Thats where I messed up..lol. That have to be a cool feeling for your friend to obviously notice you are taller.. He's probably a bit envious.. lol. Does people noticing or the felling of being taller make it all worth it for you in the end. Would you do it all over again? And its crazy how 1.5cm can make a difference in recovery time.
It’s exponential, recovery between 6.5cm instead of 8cm is probably only half as hard. I have the weight factor on my side.
And honestly bro you saved yourself a great deal of suffering, be happy you dodged a bullet. If I had to pick going through that again or suicide it would be a tough choice. I wouldn’t do it again if it made me 6ft.
Honestly I didn’t really care about other people, it was a personal thing for me. I don’t feel short anymore, I might not be tall or somewhat shorter than the average, but I feel normal. I’m in a normal range. I’m not shorter than 95% if the population anymore. Being close to the middle is enough for me. I wouldn’t have considered this if I started at the height I’m at.
With Lon femurs, there are days you just want to die. Compared to others I had the frames on for much longer since I did the full 8, but even then they were always unbearable for me mentally. There is no break in suffering mainly because of the sleep. It’s a constant ongoing suffering, not always physical pain, the discomfort and lack asleep drove me INSANE
-
Haha damn man.. that sounds brutal. And at 5'8 you are definitely not short. I'm am 5'8 and I've never felt "short". I know I wasn't tall but I never felt like I was ever the shortest person in any situation and being 5'8 we are taller than the majority of women. to be honest, I thought I was 5'10 until 2 years ago 😂. not my fault, the doctor didn't tell me to take my shoes off when they did my height many, many years ago. I wanted to do this because of my own insecurity of being the shortest guy in my family. I've never been called short ever in my life and never felt short until 2 years ago and its nagging at me. Do you think I'd have a better time at doing precice? I may have to drop a lot of weight before I do that though. At least 40lbs. I have the weight to spare.. lol
-
Damn I forgot about this site looool. Recovery is kinda strange tho. Somedays I wake up super tight and the next day I’m lose af. I currently only walk on one crutches but I use 2 when I go to grocery stores so people can be extra nice to me and gtf outta my way as I chill onna scooter lol.
Honestly I wish I had been able to do the full 8 or 7.5 at least. Two of my friends saw me and noticed right away. They kept plugging as to how tf so I just kept making up stories lol. “Car accident” “rods in my legs to stabilize my bone”.
My insecurity is definitely gone. Heck even sitting down I feel taller than people now. Haven’t worn a shoe yet and I love it. I have hella Ugg’s and slides that I never rocked and man I’m rocking them all.
I have to give away hella brand new dress shoes 🥴 I used to buy dress shoes size and half up so I can stuff em with lifts and insoles 😂😂😂 phuck I can laugh at that now.
I look rough af so I haven’t really approached anyone to see if I get a different reaction but standing next to girls I was phuckn prior, I def tower over them..
Strangely the girls don’t notice that I’m taller. Only the freaking guys....goes to show 🤔 huh
-
Damn I forgot about this site looool. Recovery is kinda strange tho. Somedays I wake up super tight and the next day I’m lose af. I currently only walk on one crutches but I use 2 when I go to grocery stores so people can be extra nice to me and gtf outta my way as I chill onna scooter lol.
Honestly I wish I had been able to do the full 8 or 7.5 at least. Two of my friends saw me and noticed right away. They kept plugging as to how tf so I just kept making up stories lol. “Car accident” “rods in my legs to stabilize my bone”.
My insecurity is definitely gone. Heck even sitting down I feel taller than people now. Haven’t worn a shoe yet and I love it. I have hella Ugg’s and slides that I never rocked and man I’m rocking them all.
I have to give away hella brand new dress shoes 🥴 I used to buy dress shoes size and half up so I can stuff em with lifts and insoles 😂😂😂 phuck I can laugh at that now.
I look rough af so I haven’t really approached anyone to see if I get a different reaction but standing next to girls I was phuckn prior, I def tower over them..
Strangely the girls don’t notice that I’m taller. Only the freaking guys....goes to show 🤔 huh
lol you had a solid setup when wearing lifts. I always had difficulties with them because the shoes was always too tight. Never thought to size up so the lift will fir better.. lol
-
Haha damn man.. that sounds brutal. And at 5'8 you are definitely not short. I'm am 5'8 and I've never felt "short". I know I wasn't tall but I never felt like I was ever the shortest person in any situation and being 5'8 we are taller than the majority of women. to be honest, I thought I was 5'10 until 2 years ago 😂. not my fault, the doctor didn't tell me to take my shoes off when they did my height many, many years ago. I wanted to do this because of my own insecurity of being the shortest guy in my family. I've never been called short ever in my life and never felt short until 2 years ago and its nagging at me. Do you think I'd have a better time at doing precice? I may have to drop a lot of weight before I do that though. At least 40lbs. I have the weight to spare.. lol
With precice you are paying for comfort. You will sleep peacefully every night, you won’t have metal pins going in your leg and infections and so much more. You might not be able to weight bear but you will be very comfortable throughout the process.
I would say the fixators are about as uncomfortable as having your hands tied behind your back for months
-
Hey man, just checking in. How are you feeling bro?
-
Hey man, just checking in. How are you feeling bro?
Not too great, I saw my orthopedic doctor and they are worried that the screws will fail on my complication leg if it exert too much. The screws can break or back out, and would require a corrective surgery. They said wait until the bone becames stronger.
After my physical therapy exercises I would feel irritation/pain at one of the top screw site area on left leg and brought it up to my doctor. so it is hindering my recovery at the time being.
Also I realized Buldu replaced those screws during frame removal. He didn’t tell me, but I had stitches at the hip/thigh screw sites on my left leg and just put 2+2 together.
Also during the correction surgery he replaced them and added the hip one to stabilize the nail. My left leg is a lot weaker due to the complication and extra surgery needed on it, praying it will recover fully but it is recovering slow than my right leg which is much stronger
Just trying to have patience but patience is running thin, this whole ordeal has been full of obstacles for me. I’m extremely bored with life also, since I can’t do much fun stuff with my limited mobility
-
Not too great, I saw my orthopedic doctor and they are worried that the screws will fail on my complication leg if it exert too much. The screws can break or back out, and would require a corrective surgery. They said wait until the bone becames stronger.
After my physical therapy exercises I would feel irritation/pain at one of the top screw site area on left leg and brought it up to my doctor. so it is hindering my recovery at the time being.
Also I realized Buldu replaced those screws during frame removal. He didn’t tell me, but I had stitches at the hip/thigh screw sites on my left leg and just put 2+2 together.
Also during the correction surgery he replaced them and added the hip one to stabilize the nail. My left leg is a lot weaker due to the complication and extra surgery needed on it, praying it will recover fully but it is recovering slow than my right leg which is much stronger
Just trying to have patience but patience is running thin, this whole ordeal has been full of obstacles for me. I’m extremely bored with life also, since I can’t do much fun stuff with my limited mobility
Damn man sorry to hear that. Hopefully you won't need that correction surgery. You seem to have a good team of knowledgable doctors around, so that's a good start.
I would ask Buldu why he didn't mention the nail change. that seems kinda odd that he didn't tell you.
Hopefully next summer all this will be a thing of the past for you. You seem like a strong willed guy. you hit 8cm.. based off what I know, that's rare with LON femur because most guys tap out between 5-7cm.. but you made it past that.
-
Damn man sorry to hear that. Hopefully you won't need that correction surgery. You seem to have a good team of knowledgable doctors around, so that's a good start.
I would ask Buldu why he didn't mention the nail change. that seems kinda odd that he didn't tell you.
Hopefully next summer all this will be a thing of the past for you. You seem like a strong willed guy. you hit 8cm.. based off what I know, that's rare with LON femur because most guys tap out between 5-7cm.. but you made it past that.
Thanks man, I’m taking it easy for now so not to stress out the hardware and cause any failure.
And I don’t blame them, I was close to tapping out the whole process. Especially when I needed the correction surgery I was thinking about having them just take off the fixator and lock the nail at 3cm mark, it truly was a nightmare and I’m glad the hard part is over, just praying I don’t have another hard part
-
Today was my PT re-evaluation. They took my measurements before starting of ROM and compared my progress. My knee rom went from 120->140 degrees, my right leg had a contracture and was 150 degrees at max, today they measured it at 176 out of 180 ( if I don’t flex push it it normally sits at 170, so I still have some way to go) but major improvements, except in my hips I have not improved much. Even my feet ( turning your foot inwards fully and outwards ) there was a huge jump in Rom. I can walk about 35-40 steps unassisted, even though my gait is atrocious ( very weak glute muscles and hips ) I will hopefully try to upload a walking video in a few days when I make my 4 month post op post
https://imgur.com/a/GbCr4zk
Picture of me wearing jeans. Unless shirt is pulled up legs don’t look unnatural. Plus my legs are super skinny and I’ve lost a ton of muscle, once walking it will come back I believe
They measured my girth also, my right leg is bigger than my left, obviously due to the complication my right leg is stronger and has more muscle/power.
Honestly if it wasn’t for the issue I had with my left leg I could probably manage to walk double what I am now. I’m able to climb a stair step (even though difficult ) with my right leg but impossible with my left. Has barely any strength
-
it don't look bad at all. And I bet down the line when you recover and able to add some size to your legs it will look great.
-
Today was my PT re-evaluation. They took my measurements before starting of ROM and compared my progress. My knee rom went from 120->140 degrees, my right leg had a contracture and was 150 degrees at max, today they measured it at 176 out of 180 ( if I don’t flex push it it normally sits at 170, so I still have some way to go) but major improvements, except in my hips I have not improved much. Even my feet ( turning your foot inwards fully and outwards ) there was a huge jump in Rom. I can walk about 35-40 steps unassisted, even though my gait is atrocious ( very weak glute muscles and hips ) I will hopefully try to upload a walking video in a few days when I make my 4 month post op post
https://imgur.com/a/GbCr4zk
Picture of me wearing jeans. Unless shirt is pulled up legs don’t look unnatural. Plus my legs are super skinny and I’ve lost a ton of muscle, once walking it will come back I believe
They measured my girth also, my right leg is bigger than my left, obviously due to the complication my right leg is stronger and has more muscle/power.
Honestly if it wasn’t for the issue I had with my left leg I could probably manage to walk double what I am now. I’m able to climb a stair step (even though difficult ) with my right leg but impossible with my left. Has barely any strength
Good you are recovering .
I have few questions for your physio.
- The range of motion of knee is 0° to 135°
'there is no 180° in knee Range of motion'
There are tow Range of motion.
Active Range of motion and passive range of motion.
Active Knee ROM: This is how much the knee can bend and straighten on its own i.e. knee muscles actively contracting without any external help.
Normal active knee range of motion is:
Knee Flexion: 135° i.e. fully bent
Knee Extension: 0°i.e. fully straight
Passive Knee ROM: How far the knee can bend and straighten when moved by an external force, usually another person – the leg and knee muscles completely relaxed.
Normal passive knee ROM is:
Passive Knee Flexion: up to 150°, depending on the size of the leg – the limit is the calf pushing onto the back of the thigh
Passive Knee Extension: up to 10°, hyperextension is considered normal
Active Assisted ROM: How far the knee can move when it is weak or in pain with some assistance – knee muscles are working to move the leg but with some help e.g. from a therapist.
Please Ask your therapist to do re-evaluation again.
-
Good you are recovering .
I have few questions for your physio.
- The range of motion of knee is 0° to 135°
'there is no 180° in knee Range of motion'
There are tow Range of motion.
Active Range of motion and passive range of motion.
Active Knee ROM: This is how much the knee can bend and straighten on its own i.e. knee muscles actively contracting without any external help.
Normal active knee range of motion is:
Knee Flexion: 135° i.e. fully bent
Knee Extension: 0°i.e. fully straight
Passive Knee ROM: How far the knee can bend and straighten when moved by an external force, usually another person – the leg and knee muscles completely relaxed.
Normal passive knee ROM is:
Passive Knee Flexion: up to 150°, depending on the size of the leg – the limit is the calf pushing onto the back of the thigh
Passive Knee Extension: up to 10°, hyperextension is considered normal
Active Assisted ROM: How far the knee can move when it is weak or in pain with some assistance – knee muscles are working to move the leg but with some help e.g. from a therapist.
Please Ask your therapist to do re-evaluation again.
It was taken of my knee lying down on my back with legs straight, then bending the knee fully without assistance. One leg reached 145 actually and other 140.
You’re talking about knee Rom while laying down on your stomach, that is out of 135
The most important measurement was the contracture, I couldn’t straighten out my right leg fully. When laying down on my back relaxed it sits at about 170 degrees.
Knee extension is actually out of 0 degrees, but I use my own wording in the post.
I get technically it would be -10 degrees or something my right leg sits but I find it easier wording it out of 180 degrees, as something that is horizontally flat would be
-
Man life is good. Wish I had done more gahdamn. Wish I had done 8cm tbh that’s the sweet spot. It’s well over 3inches so +\- you’re definitely getting a unquestionable 3inches.
I never had issues with women so I can’t say my height has improved anything plus I lost hella fkn size. But I definitely am more confident in myself. That I can notice. My taste in women has also changed, I would allow certain girls to get away with some in the past but I’m finna be Mr b8tches once I put this size back on.
Some chick had to tip toe to kiss me , she was 5’4 but I also had McQueens on but that was a first.
Unfortunately I haven’t bagged a new body yet but I haven’t really been anywhere major to meet girls and no online for me.
Currently at PT...don’t really feel like I need it, my body has been healing tremendously, I fathoms should be without crutches by end of the month. Yay me
-
Man life is good. Wish I had done more gahdamn. Wish I had done 8cm tbh that’s the sweet spot. It’s well over 3inches so +\- you’re definitely getting a unquestionable 3inches.
I never had issues with women so I can’t say my height has improved anything plus I lost hella fkn size. But I definitely am more confident in myself. That I can notice. My taste in women has also changed, I would allow certain girls to get away with some in the past but I’m finna be Mr b8tches once I put this size back on.
Some chick had to tip toe to kiss me , she was 5’4 but I also had McQueens on but that was a first.
Unfortunately I haven’t bagged a new body yet but I haven’t really been anywhere major to meet girls and no online for me.
Currently at PT...don’t really feel like I need it, my body has been healing tremendously, I fathoms should be without crutches by end of the month. Yay me
🔥🔥🔥 Let's goooo!!!
-
Man life is good. Wish I had done more gahdamn. Wish I had done 8cm tbh that’s the sweet spot. It’s well over 3inches so +\- you’re definitely getting a unquestionable 3inches.
I never had issues with women so I can’t say my height has improved anything plus I lost hella fkn size. But I definitely am more confident in myself. That I can notice. My taste in women has also changed, I would allow certain girls to get away with some in the past but I’m finna be Mr b8tches once I put this size back on.
Some chick had to tip toe to kiss me , she was 5’4 but I also had McQueens on but that was a first.
Unfortunately I haven’t bagged a new body yet but I haven’t really been anywhere major to meet girls and no online for me.
Currently at PT...don’t really feel like I need it, my body has been healing tremendously, I fathoms should be without crutches by end of the month. Yay me
I guess we can update and share the diary, he did 6.5 or 6.7 lon femur, we live in the same city for those who didn’t know lol. Complete coincidence, met at BOF hotel during lengthening
-
Day 120/4months post op
This video was taken at 10:30pm so usually im somewhat better than this, I had physical therapy today and also went grocery shopping and ran a lot of errands with crutches so my legs were already pretty exhausted. In the morning I can take longer steps and have better posture. Even then it’s still crap compared to normal.
https://imgur.com/gallery/DBypzwn
it looks like $h1t. My gait is terrible. I look like I got r aped by Ray J. But every day I seem to be able to walk a little more. About a week ago I could only walk half as much as I can now. Keep in mind my left leg is a lot weaker due to the complication I had, so one of my hips sway a lot more due to the weakness when stepping. When my legs are not tired I can take better deeper steps without having my legs as far apart. But once they get tired or fatigued by midday it’s much harder to maintain better posture. I walk with crutches and although it takes some load off your legs, It still wears you out at the end of the day
Femurs look a lot better than before in some good fitting jeans. I like the long femur look
After this weekend I’m gonna log off until next month probably, until I do 5 month update or whatever
-
Day 120/4months post op
This video was taken at 10:30pm so usually im somewhat better than this, I had physical therapy today and also went grocery shopping and ran a lot of errands with crutches so my legs were already pretty exhausted. In the morning I can take longer steps and have better posture. Even then it’s still crap compared to normal.
https://imgur.com/gallery/DBypzwn
it looks like $h1t. My gait is terrible. I look like I got r aped by Ray J. But every day I seem to be able to walk a little more. About a week ago I could only walk half as much as I can now. Keep in mind my left leg is a lot weaker due to the complication I had, so one of my hips sway a lot more due to the weakness when stepping. When my legs are not tired I can take better deeper steps without having my legs as far apart. But once they get tired or fatigued by midday it’s much harder to maintain better posture. I walk with crutches and although it takes some load off your legs, It still wears you out at the end of the day
Femurs look a lot better than before in some good fitting jeans. I like the long femur look
After this weekend I’m gonna log off until next month probably, until I do 5 month update or whatever
Haha lol ain’t mean to hijack. But sh8t you’ll be good G, just a matter of time. Tbh I probably stretch less this days but I do make it a habit to go the gym on days I don’t have PT. I do 3 different kind of pedaling exercises for 10-15 each followed by some leg press with 50-60lbs weight and def the hip abductors.
That’s mostly what I do to try and get back in. I think a mistake we make is expecting our body to “heal fast” following the gruesome ish we just put ourselves thru but trust you’ll be fine. I can guarantee that ish.
-
X-rays
https://imgur.com/a/cR5yjqv
-
Day 120/4months post op
This video was taken at 10:30pm so usually im somewhat better than this, I had physical therapy today and also went grocery shopping and ran a lot of errands with crutches so my legs were already pretty exhausted. In the morning I can take longer steps and have better posture. Even then it’s still crap compared to normal.
https://imgur.com/gallery/DBypzwn
it looks like $h1t. My gait is terrible. I look like I got r aped by Ray J. But every day I seem to be able to walk a little more. About a week ago I could only walk half as much as I can now. Keep in mind my left leg is a lot weaker due to the complication I had, so one of my hips sway a lot more due to the weakness when stepping. When my legs are not tired I can take better deeper steps without having my legs as far apart. But once they get tired or fatigued by midday it’s much harder to maintain better posture. I walk with crutches and although it takes some load off your legs, It still wears you out at the end of the day
Femurs look a lot better than before in some good fitting jeans. I like the long femur look
After this weekend I’m gonna log off until next month probably, until I do 5 month update or whatever
It doesn't look good for 4 months down the line, sorry. This inability to fully extend your knees is purely the result of LON, you wouldn't have that if you did all internal. You have to work really hard now with the physio, so don't lose any time.
-
I am able to fully extend, since about 4 weeks ago^ . You’re right about the physio, it was very hard to get it straight and painful
https://imgur.com/a/J7RsE67
my gait has improved a lot since this video, I will post in couple weeks for 5 month mark, but yeah would be better without complication. My left leg is playing catch up
With internal I wouldn’t be able to walk until 6-7 months unassisted
I still would have chosen it over Lon femur anyway but, it’s too late now lol
-
I am able to fully extend, since about 4 weeks ago^ . You’re right about the physio, it was very hard to get it straight and painful
https://imgur.com/a/J7RsE67
my gait has improved a lot since this video, I will post in couple weeks for 5 month mark, but yeah would be better without complication. My left leg is playing catch up
With internal I wouldn’t be able to walk until 6-7 months unassisted
I still would have chosen it over Lon femur anyway but, it’s too late now lol
Glad to hear that you are getting better, you are almost done now anyway! Thank you for sharing.
-
Thanks^
Actually I was gonna post an update later but
To knock it out the way for this month below is a walking video update
https://imgur.com/gallery/oaZC5em
Still not normal but posture is far better than a few weeks ago
Today is day 142 post op, aiming to hopefully walk normal by day 180/6month mark
-
Thanks^
Actually I was gonna post an update later but
To knock it out the way for this month below is a walking video update
https://imgur.com/gallery/oaZC5em
Still not normal but posture is far better than a few weeks ago
Today is day 142 post op, aiming to hopefully walk normal by day 180/6month mark
I believe I would’ve been already normal had it not been for left leg complication. My left leg is catching up, right side feels much stronger
-
I am making this post mainly because it wasn’t all in my diary.
I want to start by saying halil buldu is a nice caring guy, but there is immorality in his practice, by him doing 3-4 operations per day and hiring an a $$wipe as his medical team manager.
This guy sedat keeps spamming me nonstop because of what I wrote in my diary that was just what I experienced, so I’m going to go into detail and give him something to spam about.
Buldu does a ton of operations per day. No matter how experienced someone is, I believe your focus and cognition dulls and wears away after doing hours of surgery ( my fixator removal started at 8:30pm on a Sunday after 3 others ).
https://imgur.com/a/66gMQHC this is my first X-ray after 2 weeks after hospital discharge
If you look at the post the left leg nail is moving down when lengthening instead of up. Compare it to the right nail. This is very bad if left untreated, because the screws and pins will break out and split the bone vertically like this ( this is my actual bone side view ) https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
They are so busy and have so many patients that they told me my X-ray is fine. Dr. Taylor Reif ( I had a consultation with, he is rozbruchs partner doctor) told me this should’ve been corrected from the first X-ray and might have prevented the bone splitting vertically, but it wasn’t corrected until the damage was already done.
Besides from that, if you don’t buy the package Sedat treats you like crap. My wife refers to him as “package guy” because every time I ask him for something he try’s to sell me a package. Like here for example https://imgur.com/a/L8v5oNi
I asked him for a ride from a pharmacy across the street, because it started raining heavily and no taxis available. He told me everyone was busy in voice message. I asked one of the staff members directly and he told me he didn’t have anything he was doing and came and got me. Getting in the car my bandages got wet. I asked for a bandage change and his reply is “ we must talk about package price ? “ what a sleezeball
Another time I asked for X-rays and told him DONT schedule the xrays until you give me a price. X-ray guy shows up and ends up trying to charge me 600$ usd for 4 X-rays (which is hilariously more than USA prices in a country where X-rays are 30-40$ Bucks a piece).
My worst experience is when I had an infection and he refused to give me antibiotics and ignored me. I mean it wasn’t terrible because Buldu ended up giving them to me right away when I asked him directly but look at how this guy ignores a patient in need of help https://imgur.com/a/mdRT9xE
Some people like perfectbody/fivesomething didn’t have issues and had a good recovery, and I’m not saying it’s common. But I feel it’s only right to say that there are far more people that have complications and they don’t post it on here or are scared from the medical team.
They actually posted a patients before/after photo. This patient had TWO complications and they wrote “dreams come true” yeah, right. After a f*cking nightmare.
His first complication was same as mine and the second was pin bending. Below pic he sent me
https://imgur.com/a/lo79Pgp
It required two extra surgeries. Plus the initial and removal for a total of 4 surgeries and 4 months with fixators on.
Another person i know had 2 extra surgeries also.
Sedat makes up this story of how I fell down stairs to blame my complication on me
And to protect their image when what really happened was I had stepped down with my left leg, I started stepping down with the right and lost balance because it was a big step and I had to cling to the wall and my wife because there was not a handrail and I put all my weight on the other leg in a bending position. No way someone my weight (125 pounds) could have damaged a fixator system that holds Perfectbody/fivesomething weight (they are 170-200pounds). I would get it if it was a bent nail or broken screw issue or something else, but a nail can’t be pushed down instantly. It happened over the lengthening period, due to not proper reaming and the bone alignment when broken according to Dr. reifs opinion. Also to add, this wasn’t on stairs, it was a single step outside the elevator in my Airbnb.
it’s fine if you don’t want to take my word for it because of the incident, but realize same exact thing happened to others who did not have any incident. This has happened to multiple people and no one speaks out. I feel like it is my duty to share this because if I knew of the complications like these beforehand I would have changed my direction. Again, some people had no issues. In my opinion even 85-90% success rate is low in a medical practice. That is just a guess, out of the 30 something people I met during my experience I know of 5 that required extra complication surgery
Anytime something happens they try to sweep it under the rug
Personally I know it was their fault due to signs during lengthening that the nail was failing. One example (this is in my diary and I wrote this before I know I had any issue) was that I kept getting bone clicking in my right leg only but never in my left leg. Bone clicking is when the rod vibrates/hits the inside of your femur because it’s not locked at the bottom until fixator removal. It’s not painful just very uncomfortable. It started on day 2-3 of lengthening in my right leg but never felt it on my left leg (because the nail was stuck at the distal/bottom part).
Currently I’m recovering but due to the complication my left leg is much weaker and is hindering my recovery. My Usa orthopedic does not want me to walk unassisted on it much and worries the hardware can fail/screws back out or break. I have to wait for bone to consolidate more until I can exert prolonged force like walking and going up stairs. https://imgur.com/gallery/oaZC5em
Mentally going through complications is the worst feeling in the world. Many won’t understand unless it actually happens to you. It was mentally one of the hardest moments
-
I am making this post mainly because it wasn’t all in my diary.
I want to start by saying halil buldu is a nice caring guy, but there is immorality in his practice, by him doing 3-4 operations per day and hiring an a $$wipe as his medical team manager.
This guy sedat keeps spamming me nonstop because of what I wrote in my diary that was just what I experienced, so I’m going to go into detail and give him something to spam about.
Buldu does a ton of operations per day. No matter how experienced someone is, I believe your focus and cognition dulls and wears away after doing hours of surgery ( my fixator removal started at 8:30pm on a Sunday after 3 others ).
https://imgur.com/a/66gMQHC this is my first X-ray after 2 weeks after hospital discharge
If you look at the post the left leg nail is moving down when lengthening instead of up. This is very bad if left untreated, because the screws and pins will break out and split the bone vertically like this ( this is my actual bone side view ) https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
They are so busy and have so many patients that they told me my X-ray is fine. Dr. Taylor Reif ( I had a consultation with, he is rozbruchs partner doctor) told me this should’ve been corrected from the first X-ray and might have prevented the bone splitting vertically, but it wasn’t corrected until the damage was already done.
Besides from that, if you don’t buy the package Sedat treats you like crap. My wife refers to him as “package guy” because every time I ask him for something he try’s to sell me a package. Like here for example https://imgur.com/a/L8v5oNi
I asked him for a ride from a pharmacy across the street, because it started raining heavily. He told me everyone was busy in voice message. I asked one of the staff members directly and he told me he didn’t have anything he was doing and came and got me. Getting in the car my bandages got wet. I asked for a bandage change and his reply is “ we must talk about package price ? “ what a sleezeball
Another time I asked for X-rays and told him DONT schedule the xrays until you give me a price. X-ray guy shows up and ends up trying to charge me 600$ usd for 4 X-rays (which is hilariously more than USA prices in a country where X-rays are 30-40$ Bucks a piece).
My worst experience is when I had an infection and he refused to give me antibiotics and ignored me. I mean it wasn’t terrible because Buldu ended up giving them to me right away when I asked him directly but look at how this guy ignores a patient in need of help https://imgur.com/a/8piZacI
Some people like perfectbody/fivesomething didn’t have issues and had a good recovery, and I’m not saying it’s common. But I feel it’s only right to say that there are far more people that have complications and they don’t post it on here or are scared from the medical team.
They actually posted a patients before/after photo. This patient had TWO complications and they wrote “dreams come true” yeah, right. After a f*cking nightmare.
His first complication was same as mine and the second was pin bending. Below pic he sent me
https://imgur.com/a/lo79Pgp
It required two extra surgeries. Plus the initial and removal for a total of 4 surgeries and 4 months with fixators on.
Another person i know had 2 extra surgeries also.
Sedat makes up this story of how I fell down stairs to blame my complication on me
And to protect their image when what really happened was I had stepped down with my left leg, I started stepping down with the right and lost balance because it was a big step and I had to cling to the wall and my wife because there was not a handrail and I put all my weight on the other leg in a bending position. No way someone my weight (125 pounds) could have damaged a fixator system that holds Perfectbody/fivesomething weight (they are 170-200pounds). I would get it if it was a bent nail or broken screw issue or something else, but a nail can’t be pushed down instantly. It happened over the lengthening period, due to not proper reaming and the bone alignment when broken according to Dr. reifs opinion. Also to add, this wasn’t on stairs, it was a single step outside the elevator in my Airbnb.
it’s fine if you don’t want to take my word for it because of the incident, but realize same exact thing happened to others who did not have any incident. This has happened to multiple people and no one speaks out. I feel like it is my duty to share this because if I knew of the complications like these beforehand I would have changed my direction. Again, some people had no issues. In my opinion even 85-90% success rate is low in a medical practice. That is just a guess, out of the 30 something people I met during my experience I know of 5 that required extra complication surgery
Anytime something happens they try to sweep it under the rug
Personally I know it was their fault due to signs during lengthening that the nail was failing. One example (this is in my diary and I wrote this before I know I had any issue) was that I kept getting bone clicking in my right leg only but never in my left leg. Bone clicking is when the rod vibrates/hits the inside of your femur because it’s not locked at the bottom until fixator removal. It’s not painful just very uncomfortable. It started on day 2-3 of lengthening in my right leg but never felt it on my left leg (because the nail was stuck at the distal/bottom part).
Currently I’m recovering but due to the complication my left leg is much weaker and is hindering my recovery. My Usa orthopedic does not want me to walk unassisted on it much and worries the hardware can fail/screws back out or break
It's a long story... :'(
-
For those who want a summary of my left leg complication press this link
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=68198.msg205027#msg205027
That way you can skim through my diary and read only the beginning/walking updates/summary
-
It's a long story... :'(
It’s important knowledge for those considering Buldu
I’m not necessarily trying to deter anyone. I just want them to know of the dirt they sweep under the rug. I feel everyone has a right to know and then they can make a choice to use them or not
It’s not fair that many people will never know of any other patient gone wrong experiences because they are never posted/spoken about
If you want to use them after reading my diary go for it, but at least you have seen the full picture
-
It’s important knowledge for those considering Buldu
I’m not necessarily trying to deter anyone. I just want them to know of the dirt they sweep under the rug. I feel everyone has a right to know and then they can make a choice to use them or not
It’s not fair that many people will never know of any other patient gone wrong experiences because they are never posted/spoken about
If you want to use them after reading my diary go for it, but at least you have seen the full picture
I just re-read the story. You are out of hospital and back in the US right? Are you able to walk now pain free???
-
I just re-read the story. You are out of hospital and back in the US right? Are you able to walk now pain free???
I removed fixator august 8th. Only time I was in hospital was initial Op/complication surgery/removal surgery
I can walk pain free but as stated my USA ortho doesn’t want me to risk it because of my left leg which had the complication
Also my left leg is much weaker than my right
My recovery would be much better and easier if nail didn’t fail in that leg
-
It’s important knowledge for those considering Buldu
I’m not necessarily trying to deter anyone. I just want them to know of the dirt they sweep under the rug. I feel everyone has a right to know and then they can make a choice to use them or not
It’s not fair that many people will never know of any other patient gone wrong experiences because they are never posted/spoken about
If you want to use them after reading my diary go for it, but at least you have seen the full picture
Yes you shared very important information for future LLrs . First of all any good surgeon will never do external on femur.
Your story is eye opening for them who are completely dependent on Third party ( Marketing company) and trust them blindly , These companies are just money hungry, even Dr Halil Baldu is not pure he knows very well what he is doing just for money you can't separate him from this business.
Some fools trust them blindly and post only good things even they are fkd up . like Meck.
I am trying to expose these agents but they are abusing me .
-
For those who want a summary of my left leg complication press this link
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=68198.msg205027#msg205027
That way you can skim through my diary and read only the beginning/walking updates/summary
Pray with you , hope you will recover soon. and will forget all these pain.
-
Appreciate it
-
https://imgur.com/a/JD91nbd
Here is the step I actually lost balance on^ found it in my photos
Never actually fell or anything. Just put my body weight on other leg
-
Thank you for highlighting this.
Unfortunately it is not the first time I've heard of the shenanigans of this individual and group.
-
caveat emptor…
i think this thread is super important as it highlights numerous problems that are easily avoidable
-
Exactly, if you’re going to go overseas go with someone like parihar or giotikas etc
These doctors have proved themselves in numerous ways as putting patients first.
Buldu is a nice guy, but obviously he does not put the patient first if he is treating his practice like an assembly line.
-
Another point is just do internals. The infection would likely never have happened.
And this is not neccessarily a Buldu problem. They have this exact same issue with hair transplants. Turkey in its entirety uses pressure sale tactics to get foreigners to pay more, be it travel or medical tourists. I've been there 3 times, and I hated it more each time.
I'd probably just stay away from developing countries all together. They always drop the ball when things go wrong, because they know you have less institutional protection. If this happened in Germany or US, they'll be sued to hell, no matter how many consents you signed.
-
Another point is just do internals. The infection would likely never have happened.
And this is not neccessarily a Buldu problem. They have this exact same issue with hair transplants. Turkey in its entirety uses pressure sale tactics to get foreigners to pay more, be it travel or medical tourists. I've been there 3 times, and I hated it more each time.
I'd probably just stay away from developing countries all together. They always drop the ball when things go wrong, because they know you have less institutional protection. If this happened in Germany or US, they'll be sued to hell, no matter how many consents you signed.
Limb lenghening has been considered a popular cosmetic surgery in Turkey has it? I saw lots of foreigners head there for LL.
-
Another point is just do internals. The infection would likely never have happened.
And this is not neccessarily a Buldu problem. They have this exact same issue with hair transplants. Turkey in its entirety uses pressure sale tactics to get foreigners to pay more, be it travel or medical tourists. I've been there 3 times, and I hated it more each time.
I'd probably just stay away from developing countries all together. They always drop the ball when things go wrong, because they know you have less institutional protection. If this happened in Germany or US, they'll be sued to hell, no matter how many consents you signed.
You completely missed the point. The infection has nothing to do with what I was talking about. Pinsite infection will happen to anyone anywhere doing externals, but if you look at the post I screenshotted (2cnd photo first, then read 1st) you’ll see I was ignored. They read my message, didn’t reply. I texted 6 hours later again, same thing read and no reply
If you look at the photo you will see my right leg was so inflamed/swollen it was touching the fixator
-
You completely missed the point. The infection has nothing to do with what I was talking about. Pinsite infection will happen to anyone anywhere doing externals, but if you look at the post I screenshotted (2cnd photo first, then read 1st) you’ll see I was ignored. They read my message, didn’t reply. I texted 6 hours later again, same thing read and no reply
If you look at the photo you will see my right leg was so inflamed/swollen it was touching the fixator
I'm sorry for being such a dik but doing externals in a developing country was the main issue here. Buldu's agency was obviously unscrupulous, but you were partially responsible for all this misery because you wanted to save money. I just didn't feel any sense of self-responsibility in your writing, just that Buldu's agents were evil, and they are. However, your choices ultimately decide what happens to your body.
I had a loose screw with Betz after the initial surgery. The moment he saw it on the Xray, I was sent in the surgery room to fix it next morning. This probably had something to do with me having paid triple for internals in Germany compared to externals in Turkey.
Paley with externals only had 2% higher infection rate than he did with internals. They disinfect the wound much more frequently and professionally.
I really feel sorry for all of your misgivings, but this is just another reminder for everyone not to trust doctors with agents in developing countries. You probably would've saved 50% if everything went right. But if something went wrong, those savings will be last things you'll regret.
-
I think LLT's biggest issue is the consistent lying, at a point where they tell more lies than truths
Regardless of how unethical it becomes, the team will lie, cheat, scream at patients to make the things exactly how they want it
Additionally, LLT don't really care about the patients, nor do they do much to support the patients
99% of the time spent with patients is to film instagram stories
-
I'm sorry for being such a dik but doing externals in a developing country was the main issue here. Buldu's agency was obviously unscrupulous, but you were partially responsible for all this misery because you wanted to save money. I just didn't feel any sense of self-responsibility in your writing, just that Buldu's agents were evil, and they are. However, your choices ultimately decide what happens to your body.
I had a loose screw with Betz after the initial surgery. The moment he saw it on the Xray, I was sent in the surgery room to fix it next morning. This probably had something to do with me having paid triple for internals in Germany compared to externals in Turkey.
Paley with externals only had 2% higher infection rate than he did with internals. They disinfect the wound much more frequently and professionally.
I really feel sorry for all of your misgivings, but this is just another reminder for everyone not to trust doctors with agents in developing countries. You probably would've saved 50% if everything went right. But if something went wrong, those savings will be last things you'll regret.
Lol I didn’t take offense to anything you said, even paley wrote me in an email “you get what you pay for” you guys are completely right
Buldu did fix the complication for free. I could have afforded to do it in the USA but it would have been a huge chunk of my savings. Being 23 and working so hard to save that first 100k it’s not something you want to let go of just to have a surgery that will make you 3 inches taller. That was my attitude at that time, now I feel like I should’ve just went and did precice with giotikas or parihar for 45k-50k total.
Also this post wasn’t to really complain, it was more supposed to be an eye opener. LLT makes everything look nice and dandy, they try to seduce you. Like the photo of the patient with the bent pins, his before and after photo shows him starting at 5’8 next to sedat and he is 181cm in the after photo towering after him. Anyone looking at it is probably like “wow that’s great” but they don’t know what I know, that patient is one of my friends I made over there and he had 2 extra surgeries for complications ( bent pins and failing nail) and had the fixators on for 4 months. He went through hell. No one knows what it’s like to have femur fixators on, each day feels like forever. You start to lose your sanity due to all the discomfort. He just started walking unassisted slightly at the 6 month mark and has a long way to go to walk normal.
I made this post so people see the reality of what happens there and what’s behind their post. They post stuff that makes everything look like flowers and butterflies in reality it’s bullcrap
-
Thanks for this post.
I think we should be vary of any place which markets this procedure excessively. Someone had a broken femur after nail removal in the US and I bet that doctor will not post anything about that in their marketing. They will just put before and after pics lol.
-
Lol I didn’t take offense to anything you said, even paley wrote me in an email “you get what you pay for” you guys are completely right
Buldu did fix the complication for free. I could have afforded to do it in the USA but it would have been a huge chunk of my savings. Being 23 and working so hard to save that first 100k it’s not something you want to let go of just to have a surgery that will make you 3 inches taller. That was my attitude at that time, now I feel like I should’ve just went and did precice with giotikas or parihar for 45k-50k total.
Also this post wasn’t to really complain, it was more supposed to be an eye opener. LLT makes everything look nice and dandy, they try to seduce you. Like the photo of the patient with the bent pins, his before and after photo shows him starting at 5’8 next to sedat and he is 181cm in the after photo towering after him. Anyone looking at it is probably like “wow that’s great” but they don’t know what I know, that patient is one of my friends I made over there and he had 2 extra surgeries for complications ( bent pins and failing nail) and had the fixators on for 4 months. He went through hell. No one knows what it’s like to have femur fixators on, each day feels like forever. You start to lose your sanity due to all the discomfort. He just started walking unassisted slightly at the 6 month mark and has a long way to go to walk normal.
I made this post so people see the reality of what happens there and what’s behind their post. They post stuff that makes everything look like flowers and butterflies in reality it’s bullcrap
Totally feel you bro. Sorry for being such a dck. Your misfortune are for all of us to learn from. You did everyone in the LL world a huge favour by posting the truth behind Livelifetaller.
-
Lol I didn’t take offense to anything you said, even paley wrote me in an email “you get what you pay for” you guys are completely right
Buldu did fix the complication for free. I could have afforded to do it in the USA but it would have been a huge chunk of my savings. Being 23 and working so hard to save that first 100k it’s not something you want to let go of just to have a surgery that will make you 3 inches taller. That was my attitude at that time, now I feel like I should’ve just went and did precice with giotikas or parihar for 45k-50k total.
Also this post wasn’t to really complain, it was more supposed to be an eye opener. LLT makes everything look nice and dandy, they try to seduce you. Like the photo of the patient with the bent pins, his before and after photo shows him starting at 5’8 next to sedat and he is 181cm in the after photo towering after him. Anyone looking at it is probably like “wow that’s great” but they don’t know what I know, that patient is one of my friends I made over there and he had 2 extra surgeries for complications ( bent pins and failing nail) and had the fixators on for 4 months. He went through hell. No one knows what it’s like to have femur fixators on, each day feels like forever. You start to lose your sanity due to all the discomfort. He just started walking unassisted slightly at the 6 month mark and has a long way to go to walk normal.
I made this post so people see the reality of what happens there and what’s behind their post. They post stuff that makes everything look like flowers and butterflies in reality it’s bullcrap
I know exactly who you're talking about. Even when I saw that photo My first thought was "man he's been there for a long time". Aldo if you look closer he's being held up and not standing on his own 100%
-
Totally feel you bro. Sorry for being such a dck. Your misfortune are for all of us to learn from. You did everyone in the LL world a huge favour by posting the truth behind Livelifetaller.
You didn’t say anything offensive, and even if I can help one person with this post that’s enough for me
-
I know exactly who you're talking about. Even when I saw that photo My first thought was "man he's been there for a long time". Aldo if you look closer he's being held up and not standing on his own 100%
Yes sadly his muscles atrophied to a really high degree and the trauma from 4 surgeries slowed his recovery even more. He’s a great guy and his story behind why he got LL made me kinda sad for him. I wish him the best and pray for him
-
Yes sadly his muscles atrophied to a really high degree and the trauma from 4 surgeries slowed his recovery even more. He’s a great guy and his story behind why he got LL made me kinda sad for him. I wish him the best and pray for him
damn.. Crazy part is he wasn't really actually short. 5'8 isn't bad.. But I definitely understand being slightly under 5'9 with no shoes.
-
good post. it was clear to me though. its always fake when its all perfect.
-
good post. it was clear to me though. its always fake when its all perfect.
Yeah I didn’t expect it to be perfect. At the time I was looking for a well rounded experienced doctor. I didn’t realize experience doesnt translate to success. An experienced doctor that treats something like an assembly line is going to have way more issues than someone less experienced or like parihar who only takes a small amount per year and pays more attention to details
-
Oh wait Parihar/Giotikas are still 50k USD total for internal?
G nail alone is over 50k USD right?
But I know Parihar is less
Anyone know if Parihar in total is less than 50k$ in practice when factoring in all costs?
-
i wouldnt trust an indian doctor. and yea he is cheaper but i think he only does ilizarov.
dont cheap out on this. rather safe some more money and have it done properly
-
i wouldnt trust an indian doctor. and yea he is cheaper but i think he only does ilizarov.
dont cheap out on this. rather safe some more money and have it done properly
I would trust parihar, he does external and precice but he is experienced, isn’t concerned about money, trained with paley etc
For saving money I think giotikas is probably best choice
-
Parihar is cheap and India-based. He only does externals which is a problem in itself.
Giotikas does both externals and internals. I personally would never cheap out for externals because of the permanent scars and high infection rates.
-
Parihar is cheap and India-based. He only does externals which is a problem in itself.
Giotikas does both externals and internals. I personally would never cheap out for externals because of the permanent scars and high infection rates.
its not true that externals have high infection rates, when proper care is taken they are pretty much rare and even if they do occur, a simple antibiotic course is enough to resolve the issue... also the scars can easily be removed by a simple outpatient plastic surgery .. no question that internals are the best, but when you can't afford them, externals are not really bad either
-
Parihar is cheap and India-based. He only does externals which is a problem in itself.
Giotikas does both externals and internals. I personally would never cheap out for externals because of the permanent scars and high infection rates.
Dr Parihar does conventional externals, hexapod externals using six-axis correction like the Taylor Spatial Frame, LON, and Precice internals (when the recall isn't in effect).
Internals are overkill for tibias if you're a guy. Plus you're subjecting yourself to more injury than externals whrn you've got a nail getting shoved into your kneecaps.
-
"Precice internals (when the recall isn't in effect)."
Precise 2 not available now with Parihar?
-
"Precice internals (when the recall isn't in effect)."
Precise 2 not available now with Parihar?
Probably is, I haven't checked. I was including Styrde in that. If the last generation is still available elsewhere then Dr P is still offering them.
-
its not true that externals have high infection rates, when proper care is taken they are pretty much rare and even if they do occur, a simple antibiotic course is enough to resolve the issue... also the scars can easily be removed by a simple outpatient plastic surgery .. no question that internals are the best, but when you can't afford them, externals are not really bad either
"High" is always a relative term. Externals have double the infection rate of internals. In India, where you guys love to do your LONs and LATNs, the external infections rates are 10%, unacceptable for any cosmetic surgery.
https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll_2018_12_1_80_82.pdf
Your use of the word "remove" illustrates your lack of basic understanding around plastic surgery. Scars cannot be removed, they can only be lessened. Just like burns, your skin recovers better when it is exposed to heat for a lesser amount of time. Deep penetrative injuries over months leads to permanent deep-tissue scars. I have actually consulted a plastic surgeon, and he said while the screw insertion points can be near-invisible, the nail insertion hole near my hip would still be visible, even with skin graft. For externals, every pin hole scar is deeper than my nail incision. It is a fantasy to think plastic surgeons can work magic.
Plus, the cost of removing 10+ scars on both legs is easily more expensive than doing internals in the first place. The damage you do to yourself by choosing cheaper externals is irreversible.
-
"High" is always a relative term. Externals have double the infection rate of internals. In India, where you guys love to do your LONs and LATNs, the external infections rates are 10%, unacceptable for any cosmetic surgery.
https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll_2018_12_1_80_82.pdf
Your use of the word "remove" illustrates your lack of basic understanding around plastic surgery. Scars cannot be removed, they can only be lessened. Just like burns, your skin recovers better when it is exposed to heat for a lesser amount of time. Deep penetrative injuries over months leads to permanent deep-tissue scars. I have actually consulted a plastic surgeon, and he said while the screw insertion points can be near-invisible, the nail insertion hole near my hip would still be visible, even with skin graft. For externals, every pin hole scar is deeper than my nail incision. It is a fantasy to think plastic surgeons can work magic.
Plus, the cost of removing 10+ scars on both legs is easily more expensive than doing internals in the first place. The damage you do to yourself by choosing cheaper externals is irreversible.
Woah! I was not aware of this fully, so unfortunate.
-
"High" is always a relative term. Externals have double the infection rate of internals. In India, where you guys love to do your LONs and LATNs, the external infections rates are 10%, unacceptable for any cosmetic surgery.
https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll/Ann_Punjab%20Med_Coll_2018_12_1_80_82.pdf
Your use of the word "remove" illustrates your lack of basic understanding around plastic surgery. Scars cannot be removed, they can only be lessened. Just like burns, your skin recovers better when it is exposed to heat for a lesser amount of time. Deep penetrative injuries over months leads to permanent deep-tissue scars. I have actually consulted a plastic surgeon, and he said while the screw insertion points can be near-invisible, the nail insertion hole near my hip would still be visible, even with skin graft. For externals, every pin hole scar is deeper than my nail incision. It is a fantasy to think plastic surgeons can work magic.
Plus, the cost of removing 10+ scars on both legs is easily more expensive than doing internals in the first place. The damage you do to yourself by choosing cheaper externals is irreversible.
hey sirstretchalot,
comparing a research paper done on trauma cases with an open fracture to cosmetically done cases under sterile environment is not a fair thing to do..
open fractures mean they have skin wounds, most of which would be larger and almost always are the source of infection,.
in cosmetic cases we dont have such unsterile wounds, and hence your comparison is not valid.
ok i might have made a mistake in calling it scar removal, but a scar revision surgery would make the scar almost invisible. i am a recently graduated doctor myself and have seen so many of those procedures being done, during my dermatology and surgery rotations..
also the cost as you say is not even close to the cost of externals. the cost in india, would not exceed 50000 inr(i have this confirmed from seniors who have finished their residency in dermatology) per segment. so even 4 segments would mean no more than 3000-4000 usd. which as you can see in no way is more.
-
also no one is saying not to go for internals when you can afford them, if i had the money i would myself have gone with internals. but for those who cant afford and dont want to wait for 5+ years( thats what it takes even for a physician to make enough money to afford internals in india), externals are not a bad option. and after seeing the recovery of people like jim dabarber and overdozer.. it further proves my point
-
I am making this post mainly because it wasn’t all in my diary.
I want to start by saying halil buldu is a nice caring guy, but there is immorality in his practice, by him doing 3-4 operations per day and hiring an a $$wipe as his medical team manager.
This guy sedat keeps spamming me nonstop because of what I wrote in my diary that was just what I experienced, so I’m going to go into detail and give him something to spam about.
Buldu does a ton of operations per day. No matter how experienced someone is, I believe your focus and cognition dulls and wears away after doing hours of surgery ( my fixator removal started at 8:30pm on a Sunday after 3 others ).
https://imgur.com/a/66gMQHC this is my first X-ray after 2 weeks after hospital discharge
If you look at the post the left leg nail is moving down when lengthening instead of up. Compare it to the right nail. This is very bad if left untreated, because the screws and pins will break out and split the bone vertically like this ( this is my actual bone side view ) https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
They are so busy and have so many patients that they told me my X-ray is fine. Dr. Taylor Reif ( I had a consultation with, he is rozbruchs partner doctor) told me this should’ve been corrected from the first X-ray and might have prevented the bone splitting vertically, but it wasn’t corrected until the damage was already done.
Besides from that, if you don’t buy the package Sedat treats you like crap. My wife refers to him as “package guy” because every time I ask him for something he try’s to sell me a package. Like here for example https://imgur.com/a/L8v5oNi
I asked him for a ride from a pharmacy across the street, because it started raining heavily and no taxis available. He told me everyone was busy in voice message. I asked one of the staff members directly and he told me he didn’t have anything he was doing and came and got me. Getting in the car my bandages got wet. I asked for a bandage change and his reply is “ we must talk about package price ? “ what a sleezeball
Another time I asked for X-rays and told him DONT schedule the xrays until you give me a price. X-ray guy shows up and ends up trying to charge me 600$ usd for 4 X-rays (which is hilariously more than USA prices in a country where X-rays are 30-40$ Bucks a piece).
My worst experience is when I had an infection and he refused to give me antibiotics and ignored me. I mean it wasn’t terrible because Buldu ended up giving them to me right away when I asked him directly but look at how this guy ignores a patient in need of help https://imgur.com/a/mdRT9xE
Some people like perfectbody/fivesomething didn’t have issues and had a good recovery, and I’m not saying it’s common. But I feel it’s only right to say that there are far more people that have complications and they don’t post it on here or are scared from the medical team.
They actually posted a patients before/after photo. This patient had TWO complications and they wrote “dreams come true” yeah, right. After a f*cking nightmare.
His first complication was same as mine and the second was pin bending. Below pic he sent me
https://imgur.com/a/lo79Pgp
It required two extra surgeries. Plus the initial and removal for a total of 4 surgeries and 4 months with fixators on.
Another person i know had 2 extra surgeries also.
Sedat makes up this story of how I fell down stairs to blame my complication on me
And to protect their image when what really happened was I had stepped down with my left leg, I started stepping down with the right and lost balance because it was a big step and I had to cling to the wall and my wife because there was not a handrail and I put all my weight on the other leg in a bending position. No way someone my weight (125 pounds) could have damaged a fixator system that holds Perfectbody/fivesomething weight (they are 170-200pounds). I would get it if it was a bent nail or broken screw issue or something else, but a nail can’t be pushed down instantly. It happened over the lengthening period, due to not proper reaming and the bone alignment when broken according to Dr. reifs opinion. Also to add, this wasn’t on stairs, it was a single step outside the elevator in my Airbnb.
it’s fine if you don’t want to take my word for it because of the incident, but realize same exact thing happened to others who did not have any incident. This has happened to multiple people and no one speaks out. I feel like it is my duty to share this because if I knew of the complications like these beforehand I would have changed my direction. Again, some people had no issues. In my opinion even 85-90% success rate is low in a medical practice. That is just a guess, out of the 30 something people I met during my experience I know of 5 that required extra complication surgery
Anytime something happens they try to sweep it under the rug
Personally I know it was their fault due to signs during lengthening that the nail was failing. One example (this is in my diary and I wrote this before I know I had any issue) was that I kept getting bone clicking in my right leg only but never in my left leg. Bone clicking is when the rod vibrates/hits the inside of your femur because it’s not locked at the bottom until fixator removal. It’s not painful just very uncomfortable. It started on day 2-3 of lengthening in my right leg but never felt it on my left leg (because the nail was stuck at the distal/bottom part).
Currently I’m recovering but due to the complication my left leg is much weaker and is hindering my recovery. My Usa orthopedic does not want me to walk unassisted on it much and worries the hardware can fail/screws back out or break. I have to wait for bone to consolidate more until I can exert prolonged force like walking and going up stairs. https://imgur.com/gallery/oaZC5em
Mentally going through complications is the worst feeling in the world. Many won’t understand unless it actually happens to you. It was mentally one of the hardest moments
It seems that you have undergone a lengthening process with plenty of complications. I'm sorry for you, I hope you are well now. I am planning to have this surgery. Turkey is also among my options, but I guess I'll have to do some more research on this forum :-\. The complication rate in limb lengthening surgery is quite high, but in your case, complications seem to be overlooked. The excuse that the surgeon is busy is bull . If he's too busy to deal with the complication then he shouldn't be performing that many surgeries. Is the person responding to you quoting the surgeon's answer or is it his own? If they are his own opinions, is he at the level of education to be able to make these comments? Although many people complain about the complications and irresponsibility of this surgeon, the large number of patients he has is confusing. The reason must be the price.
-
It seems that you have undergone a lengthening process with plenty of complications. I'm sorry for you, I hope you are well now. I am planning to have this surgery. Turkey is also among my options, but I guess I'll have to do some more research on this forum :-\. The complication rate in limb lengthening surgery is quite high, but in your case, complications seem to be overlooked. The excuse that the surgeon is busy is bull . If he's too busy to deal with the complication then he shouldn't be performing that many surgeries. Is the person responding to you quoting the surgeon's answer or is it his own? If they are his own opinions, is he at the level of education to be able to make these comments? Although many people complain about the complications and irresponsibility of this surgeon, the large number of patients he has is confusing. The reason must be the price.
Not only the price, because in many places they do LON even with lower prices, it is the publicity and marketing that Turkey has and especially the agency that works with Dr. Buldu. They have many patients yes, and they make everything look "perfect" but in reality many have had complications, they just don't come to light.
-
The surgeon fixed the complications for free^
I was saying anytime they have a complication they cover it up and the process is sugarcoated to new patients considering surgery.
The complications hinder your recovery by months, and cause so much extra physical, mental, and emotional pain
Just cause they fixed their own mistake for free doesn’t make it right. Shouldn’t be making mistakes in the first place, they’re putting people through high unnecessary suffering by making that mistake. All because they treat it like an assembly line. Don’t pick an experienced doctor that values quantity over quality. Experience means nothing when youre doing so many surgeries a day, your mind will slip even if you are Paley. We are human
-
Hi Activatedxx
Do your femur muscles feel or behave differently after having the external fixator? It looks like it would scar them up so curious to how you feel.
-
Hi Activatedxx
Do your femur muscles feel or behave differently after having the external fixator? It looks like it would scar them up so curious to how you feel.
Not that I know, still recovering muscle back
they feel different from length increase
-
Not that I know, still recovering muscle back
they feel different from length increase
In what way do they feel different from length increase?
-
In what way do they feel different from length increase?
Mainly in getting rid of height dysphoria
I was ashamed of my height before. It used to bother me so much, the increase isn’t drastic to the point I feel tall with an 8cm increase, but I feel way taller than before. I was never taller than anyone barely before, and a lot of females were taller with high heels, including my wife
Now I’m taller than about 40% of male population and even girls with heels I’m usually a few inches taller or if they are 5’5 with heels I am slightly taller or same height
Even people that are 1 inch taller I am eye level with them and don’t feel like they are taller
Height no longer bothers me in an obsessive way, I feel like I am in a normal range. I would love to be 2-3 inches taller than I am now, but it doesn’t bother me to the point where I hate it, if I was born at this height I probably would have never considered LL in the first place
More so, people used to comment about how they thought I was a high school student at work, whenever they ask me if I own the place, at least a few times a week. I haven’t received any comments like that since getting back to work a couple months ago. It’s no placebo effect, people are definitely taking me more serious in society, it’s a physiologic effect maybe when you are making eye contact instead of them looking down or something idk
Feel like I’m being treated as an adult or at the very least a young adult instead of a child
-
I am making this post mainly because it wasn’t all in my diary.
I want to start by saying halil buldu is a nice caring guy, but there is immorality in his practice, by him doing 3-4 operations per day and hiring an a $$wipe as his medical team manager.
This guy sedat keeps spamming me nonstop because of what I wrote in my diary that was just what I experienced, so I’m going to go into detail and give him something to spam about.
Buldu does a ton of operations per day. No matter how experienced someone is, I believe your focus and cognition dulls and wears away after doing hours of surgery ( my fixator removal started at 8:30pm on a Sunday after 3 others ).
https://imgur.com/a/66gMQHC this is my first X-ray after 2 weeks after hospital discharge
If you look at the post the left leg nail is moving down when lengthening instead of up. Compare it to the right nail. This is very bad if left untreated, because the screws and pins will break out and split the bone vertically like this ( this is my actual bone side view ) https://imgur.com/gallery/DAd8bqm
They are so busy and have so many patients that they told me my X-ray is fine. Dr. Taylor Reif ( I had a consultation with, he is rozbruchs partner doctor) told me this should’ve been corrected from the first X-ray and might have prevented the bone splitting vertically, but it wasn’t corrected until the damage was already done.
Besides from that, if you don’t buy the package Sedat treats you like crap. My wife refers to him as “package guy” because every time I ask him for something he try’s to sell me a package. Like here for example https://imgur.com/a/L8v5oNi
I asked him for a ride from a pharmacy across the street, because it started raining heavily and no taxis available. He told me everyone was busy in voice message. I asked one of the staff members directly and he told me he didn’t have anything he was doing and came and got me. Getting in the car my bandages got wet. I asked for a bandage change and his reply is “ we must talk about package price ? “ what a sleezeball
Another time I asked for X-rays and told him DONT schedule the xrays until you give me a price. X-ray guy shows up and ends up trying to charge me 600$ usd for 4 X-rays (which is hilariously more than USA prices in a country where X-rays are 30-40$ Bucks a piece).
My worst experience is when I had an infection and he refused to give me antibiotics and ignored me. I mean it wasn’t terrible because Buldu ended up giving them to me right away when I asked him directly but look at how this guy ignores a patient in need of help https://imgur.com/a/mdRT9xE
Some people like perfectbody/fivesomething didn’t have issues and had a good recovery, and I’m not saying it’s common. But I feel it’s only right to say that there are far more people that have complications and they don’t post it on here or are scared from the medical team.
They actually posted a patients before/after photo. This patient had TWO complications and they wrote “dreams come true” yeah, right. After a f*cking nightmare.
His first complication was same as mine and the second was pin bending. Below pic he sent me
https://imgur.com/a/lo79Pgp
It required two extra surgeries. Plus the initial and removal for a total of 4 surgeries and 4 months with fixators on.
Another person i know had 2 extra surgeries also.
Sedat makes up this story of how I fell down stairs to blame my complication on me
And to protect their image when what really happened was I had stepped down with my left leg, I started stepping down with the right and lost balance because it was a big step and I had to cling to the wall and my wife because there was not a handrail and I put all my weight on the other leg in a bending position. No way someone my weight (125 pounds) could have damaged a fixator system that holds Perfectbody/fivesomething weight (they are 170-200pounds). I would get it if it was a bent nail or broken screw issue or something else, but a nail can’t be pushed down instantly. It happened over the lengthening period, due to not proper reaming and the bone alignment when broken according to Dr. reifs opinion. Also to add, this wasn’t on stairs, it was a single step outside the elevator in my Airbnb.
it’s fine if you don’t want to take my word for it because of the incident, but realize same exact thing happened to others who did not have any incident. This has happened to multiple people and no one speaks out. I feel like it is my duty to share this because if I knew of the complications like these beforehand I would have changed my direction. Again, some people had no issues. In my opinion even 85-90% success rate is low in a medical practice. That is just a guess, out of the 30 something people I met during my experience I know of 5 that required extra complication surgery
Anytime something happens they try to sweep it under the rug
Personally I know it was their fault due to signs during lengthening that the nail was failing. One example (this is in my diary and I wrote this before I know I had any issue) was that I kept getting bone clicking in my right leg only but never in my left leg. Bone clicking is when the rod vibrates/hits the inside of your femur because it’s not locked at the bottom until fixator removal. It’s not painful just very uncomfortable. It started on day 2-3 of lengthening in my right leg but never felt it on my left leg (because the nail was stuck at the distal/bottom part).
Currently I’m recovering but due to the complication my left leg is much weaker and is hindering my recovery. My Usa orthopedic does not want me to walk unassisted on it much and worries the hardware can fail/screws back out or break. I have to wait for bone to consolidate more until I can exert prolonged force like walking and going up stairs. https://imgur.com/gallery/oaZC5em
Mentally going through complications is the worst feeling in the world. Many won’t understand unless it actually happens to you. It was mentally one of the hardest moments
Wow what a sh*t show. When i saw that x-ray of yours i felt the pain :'(
I hope you recover soon! How is your mobility now? Can you walk? or stand atleast?
-
Wow what a sh*t show. When i saw that x-ray of yours i felt the pain :'(
I hope you recover soon! How is your mobility now? Can you walk? or stand atleast?
Walking unassisted short distances, but my left leg is much weaker and taking longer to heal compared to right
-
Please post another update video! Thank you
-
Does anyone ever just fly to Turkey (without an appointment) and talk to Surgeons, then get the surgery done a few weeks later?
1. I find it really hard to get things started across the globe.
2. I'd rather just pull the trigger and do it rather than lay out a long roadmap (just the way my mind works). If I did book smoothing in a few months I wouldn't sleep until that 2 months had gone by... And then would have the surgery and not sleep for another 4 haha...
Also: I feel like there are maybe some good Doctors in Malaysia or Thailand but only Asians know about them and they don't advertise in English?...
-
Also: I feel like there are maybe some good Doctors in Malaysia or Thailand but only Asians know about them and they don't advertise in English?...
There's Dr Tardthong in Bangkok, Thailand.
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=139
-
Mainly in getting rid of height dysphoria
I was ashamed of my height before. It used to bother me so much, the increase isn’t drastic to the point I feel tall with an 8cm increase, but I feel way taller than before. I was never taller than anyone barely before, and a lot of females were taller with high heels, including my wife
Now I’m taller than about 40% of male population and even girls with heels I’m usually a few inches taller or if they are 5’5 with heels I am slightly taller or same height
Even people that are 1 inch taller I am eye level with them and don’t feel like they are taller
Height no longer bothers me in an obsessive way, I feel like I am in a normal range. I would love to be 2-3 inches taller than I am now, but it doesn’t bother me to the point where I hate it, if I was born at this height I probably would have never considered LL in the first place
More so, people used to comment about how they thought I was a high school student at work, whenever they ask me if I own the place, at least a few times a week. I haven’t received any comments like that since getting back to work a couple months ago. It’s no placebo effect, people are definitely taking me more serious in society, it’s a physiologic effect maybe when you are making eye contact instead of them looking down or something idk
Feel like I’m being treated as an adult or at the very least a young adult instead of a child
Would you do it all over again if you were back at your previous state? Did you regret this?
-
Hello guys
I’m right at about 6 month mark now. I will post X-rays soon my appointment to take them is coming up, but I will upload a walking video. My walking is closish to normal but I can only maintain it for so long. I went to a theme park for about 3 hours with ride breaks in between ( I had a skip line pass so it was a good amount of walking ) after the initial 30 min or so I develop a limp on my left leg and it gradually gets worse. I was relieved when the park closed because I could barely walk at that point, my legs felt extremely heavy it was ALOT of walking and I didn’t think I would even be capable to do half of what I walked. Miles for sure. Anyways it tells me my left leg is still catching up, I can very barely very slowly jog and jump but I’m not going to be doing anything strenuous. If I look stiff in the video it’s because I am sore in my calves. Internally I still feel tight/stiff/discomfort in some areas especially waking up I usually have to walk a little to warm up and get my gait more normal
If my left leg was the same stage as my right (if I didn’t have complication) I feel I would be much more satisfied, my right leg feels twice as strong as the other. Goes to show what going to a low quality doctor/cheap country can do. Overall I have mixed feelings about doing this. It’s definitely cured a majority of my height dysphoria but at the cost of my physical abilities. I was a state ranked wrestler in high school and always was comfortable knowing I could defend myself against 90% of the male population now I could get beat up by 90% of the male population or even an overweight female. It’s definitely depressing thinking that; it really sucks the price we have to pay to get rid of dysphoria. It’s like I feel more of a man but less at the same time. I sacrificed money, nightmarish pain, and my physical capabilities to go from short to under average. I wouldn’t complain about being slightly under average with physical capabilities.
This recovery is definitely tough. Even without the complication it’s no joke, but with it my recovery is going slower than I personally expected. It definitely feels like I’ve been this height all my life which is really weird. I barely remember what it feels like being 5’5 expect for the insecurity.
After I post my X-ray I probably won’t be updating for a few months. I’m grateful for my life at the end of the day, this process has taught me loads of patience and gratitude. There are some people in wheelchairs for the rest of their life or blind/permanent diseases. I’ll gladly take and accept whatever problems I have now because I am still happy with my life and they are minor problems compared to many I am sincerely blessed
https://imgur.com/gallery/pwFjHy4
6 month walking post op (with suffering left leg complication)
-
looking great mate..good luck for further recovery .how has life improved with your new height?
-
Would tibia or femur be better for a 6cm lengthening?
-
Would tibia or femur be better for a 6cm lengthening?
Internals- femur
Externals- tibia..but will be difficult post 5cm
-
:'(
-
your leg better now? :o
-
Hope you are doing okay!
-
Hey guys, thanks for the support above. Been a few months since I’ve been on here.
I’m doing alright, I have a few issues. I’m walking normally and can do pretty much all normal things. I rode an electric scooter downtown for an hour, went skating rink (went very slow and was tricky to keep balance, but I always sucked at skating anyways, didn’t fall or anything).
I don’t really do anything physically intensive, just normal life and work. Longer walking for 30 min or one hour isn’t an issue. There are still some things I can’t really do, like if I sit on something very low I need just slight hand support to get up, looks completely normal and most people do it like taller and overweight people. But this was something I didnt do before ll. Not sure if cause of biomechanics change or strength. Maybe both
My concerns are though that I have pain in only my left leg top screw sites, especially if I press on the specific area. I’m pretty sure my bones are fully consolidated by now but I haven’t even had the willpower to go get an X-ray in months lol. It’s not a huge issue, I feel discomfort in the area here and there.
Not looking towards removing rods and screws but I think I have to do that asap as soon as it’s safe, which could be a long while.
My right leg is doing great, I feel like it’s 60% of what it is pre ll in terms of strength. Could be more and probably run if left was the same, because I’d be able to do more exercises like squats etc without my other leg tiring early. My left leg however feels much weaker and I would say 40% of pre LL strength. It makes slow progress. Also I haven’t really been doing much physio in last couple of months. My rom is normal and I feel like it doesn’t help. I need strength building exercise and my left leg kind of prevents me from that. I can walk up / down stairs unassisted normally and jog very slowly but I feel discomfort in the area if I do that time after time. Pretty sure screw is backing out or something. I really need to go see my doctor and I think I will soon, it’s just far and the real reason it’s pretty awkward seeing them lol. I’m pretty sure the weakness is coming from my left hip from the extra surgery, but I’m not a doctor.
Still doesn’t feel real that I did this, and being shorter feels like a distance dream even though it was a matter of months. Life goes back to normal for me and I forget the suffering I took except when I reread my diary it reminds me of the severe pain at times.
May or may not do tibia in future. Probably not. This has really cured so much neurosis for me. It’s a small insecurity I have now instead of a giant hole. But it did come with a heavy price. I don’t think I’ll ever be as physically strong as before. Even if you do 5cm. It takes a toll, and it can be depressing at times, and can make you feel like less of a man. Like around New Years some drunk guy called my girl a bi*ch at a party and after an exchange of words I had to let it go because I would be defenseless if something broke out. Really bothered me for a while. I hope in the future obviously i would be a lot more capable, but I don’t think I’ll ever be where I was at before LL. Regardless of my height before LL I did wrestling for years and years and was at a point where I was able to easily manhandle my friends that were bigger and taller than me. Of course there would still some amount of the population that could overcome you, it was a comfort knowing would’ve been a small fraction.
I don’t think any other cosmetic change comes with a heftier price. 3 inches for me was definitely life changing, but both good and bad. When I say 60% of pre LL strength on my right leg, that was me being a lazy fk and working out once a week. I used to be able to run or deadlift 50% aprx more in high school running track and wrestling than as an adult, so after LL depending on amount I don’t think you could ever be more than 60-75% of your full potential. Most people are fine with that. It only bothers them in their head. Had I not done LL I highly doubt ever in my adult life I would ever end up having time to run miles and train for hours on a daily basis anyways.
Would it be nice to be a couple inches taller, sure, but I would even say that at 5’10 or 6ft etc.
How I know that it really cleared my neurosis is that when I think of doing tibia, I have no motivation or care for it. I just think “meh it would be pretty nice to be a couple inches taller, but I have little motivation to go through all that again, even if it was free”. While my mindset of doing femurs was basically desperate to find a way, regardless of the pain and large amount of money. I have never done anything crazier in my life.
Last thing I wanna mention is weight. I weighed 127 before and weighed 143. Besides height I don’t where the weight came from. I was always skinny and am slightly less skinny from all the food etc I ate and lack of exercise but look close to same as before LL. Probably from lack of exercise. Im sure some came from new bone and the nails, but not 15+ Pounds
-
Yes you shared very important information for future LLrs . First of all any good surgeon will never do external on femur.
Your story is eye opening for them who are completely dependent on Third party ( Marketing company) and trust them blindly , These companies are just money hungry, even Dr Halil Baldu is not pure he knows very well what he is doing just for money you can't separate him from this business.
Some fools trust them blindly and post only good things even they are fkd up . like Meck.
I am trying to expose these agents but they are abusing me .
Meck was not so-called 'fked up' and what is making you sparing so time to write such a compressed piece of stinky st LOL.
Along his threads, Meck updated bad situations such as his severe knee pains, neuropraxia as well as good situations which you have already known about. So why are you thinking his posts were biased towards good outcomes instead of both bad and good ones? In addition, from current informations implied in Meck's posts, he is now getting very well along his new height and he removed his nails several months ago so plz prove 'Meck is fked up' LOL.
Plus, I am not planning to do LL under Buldu's hands but Paley's. So don't tarnish me as an agent or whatnot like you do to others. :-X
-
Meck was not so-called 'fked up' and what is making you sparing so time to write such a compressed piece of stinky st LOL.
Along his threads, Meck updated bad situations such as his severe knee pains, neuropraxia as well as good situations which you have already known about. So why are you thinking his posts were biased towards good outcomes instead of both bad and good ones? In addition, from current informations implied in Meck's posts, he is now getting very well along his new height and he removed his nails several months ago so plz prove 'Meck is fked up' LOL.
Plus, I am not planning to do LL under Buldu's hands but Paley's. So don't tarnish me as an agent or whatnot like you do to others. :-X
Nobody is calling anybody an agent here. Based on the content Meck uploaded it's very easy to see he did a lot and maybe too quickly. Is he permanently screwed? Who knows. He definitely, 100% has a LONG road of recovery ahead of him. Be careful with this procedure; it's painful and dangerous. Not everybody walks away lucky.
-
Nobody is calling anybody an agent here. Based on the content Meck uploaded it's very easy to see he did a lot and maybe too quickly. Is he permanently screwed? Who knows. He definitely, 100% has a LONG road of recovery ahead of him. Be careful with this procedure; it's painful and dangerous. Not everybody walks away lucky.
Yeah, I am not either advocating doing 18cm in total. That is very very dangerous and rare from my knowledges.
-
Hey guys, long time no see. I forgot my login email so I made a new account to update. But my comment has been “under review” for almost two weeks and still hasn’t posted, so I was forced to dig through my 20 emails to reset my password. It may post eventually and it will be a copy of this comment, in case you see it twice.
https://imgur.com/gallery/y6XTX0I
This is my current progress.
My walking is normal with the exception I wake up stiff some days and have to walk 5-10 min to get normal. I can jog short distance and jump. No sprinting or high jumping ability yet. I refrain from jogging or intensity until nails and screws are removed. Haven’t been able to really make much progress due to screw irritation. Usually like a 1-2/10 pain (left leg only) when doing exercises more intense than walking (going up stairs, body squats). Once the nails and screws are out ( plan on removing in like a couple months ) I plan on really trying to get in the best possible shape I can. Left leg really hindered my recovery due to the complications and the screws starting to back out after fixator removal. Once they are out there are no excuses.
My dumb ass has still yet to get an X-ray. Been over 6 months since last one. I am going to force myself to go this coming week.
I am at aprx the one year mark. Crazy to think I actually went through with this. None of it feels real anymore and it becomes a distant memory as the time goes by. I forget the medieval like torture until I reread my diary at times and remember the immense pain from the pinsite infections, surgery, waking up shivering feeling so cold like I am nked in December etc.
Feels like the 3’ have been there my entire life. Being my height may not feel special to many other people, especially those born at it. But it made a world of difference to me. I think that’s what matters at the end of the day, I have rid myself of my mental problem and no more obsess about height because I am close to average and it does not bother me so greatly like it used to. I don’t have that gaping hole of insecurity I had at 5’5. It is just a small insecurity now at times, and isn’t bad at all. If I was born this height it wouldn’t have pushed me mentally to do something this crazy. Life isn’t bad at all at this height for me personally. At the end of the day the trade off is immense, and this surgery doesn’t bring you satisfaction only relief of being shorter. You trade your suffering for lesser suffering (being permanently less athletic than you were in the long run most likely). Even if you do 3cm I’m fairly positive your former self would be able to beat you up regardless if you lose 10/20/30% of your athletic capacity. But that’s just the way it is and for I would rather live with that than be 5’5 at the end of the day if I’m being brutally honest. This decision isn’t guaranteed and even though things didn’t go as smooth as I hoped I am thankful I wasn’t crippled or died although very rare it happens. If you do end up making this decision the last thing I want to say is please please please use an internal nail. They are able to have complications as well but 99% of the time they will be 1000% easier than what I went through.
-
Glad to hear that you are doing well! Sorry to hear about the lingering pain.
How does the nail removal work? Will you do that in the states or back in Turkey?
-
It’s only on the top screw site on left leg. More discomfort than pain it’s pretty low/ignorable but I feel it going up stairs etc. haven’t decided yet but not using Buldu again lol
-
Ah gotcha. Do you have to get the screws removed (assuming that you don’t have pain, like in your case)
Few people talk about this part of the process
-
Yeah it’s possible to leave everything but would cause issues down the road. Screws aren’t made to support your body weight for years. Always better to take out asap as it becomes almost impossible to take out the nails after a certain time. Usually after 24 months I think I read
-
Your walking looks great man. Your proportions also looks phenomenal.
Thanks a lot for coming back to share with us. I appreciate it a lot.
-
Recovery looks solid. Getting lon femurs w buldu next week. Read your diary and that you don’t really recommend him but he’s all I can afford rn unfortunately
-
Thanks for updating your diary. You are inspiring to many people who wants to get this done.
-
Updating of walking video please
-
Hey guys, been busy with life sorry for the late Update. I just got my X-rays today. Been about a year since my last ones. Waiting on doctor to review them. I can’t tell if I’m ready for removal based on the X-rays. My left femur healed oddly looking due to the second break from the hardware failing during distraction. If anyone can review and give me an educated opinion till I see my USA doctor. I’ve attached them to post
https://imgur.com/gallery/ao80jSL
Edit* attached here ^
Really just want to get rid of these rods and screws and be over with. Hopefully it’s healed sufficient for removal. Z and anyone else I was in WhatsApp chat with feel free to message me on here, I lost access since I changed my number.
Anyone considering buldu or LLT should know they blackmail and try to cover any negative results. For each person that speaks up there are a dozen more that had a bad experience but are too scared to speak up or tell anyone. From personal experience I would say they have like a 70% success rate, with the remainder percent needing another corrective surgery like me or multiple ones. And then another portion of that have serious complications or permanent ones.
My case wasn’t bad compared to some others. One of my friends I met while there needed 3 corrective surgeries on one leg.
Some of them are the patients fault partly, or some do everything right and still have failure.
They let patients lengthen 1.5mm a day, smoke cigs, etc. even if it’s a patients choice as a doctor you shouldn’t allow it. Some of the patients who have failures did everything right and avoided any bad choices but still get screwed like me for example. Make the right choice and choose a better doctor for this procedure. Even if you cannot afford go to someone more reputable like parihar or Giotikas IMO.
I can walk long distance fine, walking looks normal. my running is funny but I can run short distance until the screw sites irritate me. My recovery is taking longer due to the complication but I have faith it will be a huge leap with a successful removal. I can’t really do anything strenuous because of these rods and screws. Once they’re out I plan to push myself to the max. I know there is some loss physically due to this surgery but I know I can do way better with the hardware out so that it can’t limit me. I can feel force on the screws and rod when I run or lift weights. My Range of motion is normal range but I am not close to being as flexible pre surgery, I don’t think it’s possible with an extra 8cm.
-
https://imgur.com/gallery/ao80jSL
Xrays
-
Any video of your walk? Would be highly appreciated!
-
Will you continue to update?
-
Thanks for posting the picture. It's obvious you're having surgery. Unfortunately, fake diaries are more prominent in this forum. I love honest diaries like you and we learn a lot from you. Please keep updating.
-
its crazy even buldu has lot patients who had complications they continue rising prices like crazy. i aked 1 year and few months ago was 25k today its 35k and rising ? is there better options for that money ???
-
I'm thinking of getting femurs with LON, there's really no other option where I live...
My Doctor suggested I did one femur at a time, so I can have a "good" leg during the stretch. Of course, this would double the time needed for recovery, but given your reports of so much pain, I'm thinking that maybe it's better...
Do you think it would be better to do one leg at a time?
-
I'm thinking of getting femurs with LON, there's really no other option where I live...
My Doctor suggested I did one femur at a time, so I can have a "good" leg during the stretch. Of course, this would double the time needed for recovery, but given your reports of so much pain, I'm thinking that maybe it's better...
Do you think it would be better to do one leg at a time?
Please dont do that you will regret it.
-
How are you champ it's been a long time. I hope you come back.
-
If you have recent imaging data please put it at this thread. Redact any information that could be used to dox you.
-
I have been following your diary for a long time. I sent you an pm but got no response. Can you continue the update?
-
It's been a long time man, I hope you're okay. I hope you update your diary. At least people will stay away from Halil butcher now.
-
Hey guys, long time no see. I fully consolidated probably 12-18 months ago. Life goes on normally and you kind of just forget about the forum and LL. My walk is normal, and I can jog and short burst sprint, though not as explosive as before. I can skii, skate, etc just not as nimble as before. i feel that you can’t recover until nail removal. I have a backing/loose screw as well last X-ray I posted, and I have moderate pain when I run so that’s what limits me. Ive been procrastinating the removal. I work as an engineer now, and I was finishing more college while working before so I had to put the removal aside. Now that I’m done I plan to remove the nails asap within the next few months. I really want the hardware out asap so I can become much more active. I’m already talking to multiple doctors and seeing if I can get insurance to partially cover. If not, no biggie I’ll pay out of pocket. I may end up doing tibia if I can get any sort of discount. I have to say that LL mentally did help me so much, but it comes with a lot of physical sacrifices. I used to be so insecure and hateful about my height, even though that was a mental issue on my part. Me considering tibia is more of a temptation if the opportunity presents itself, rather than the feeling I had before when I did Lon femur, where I felt I would subject myself to anything and go through whatever type of pain to grow. Being 5’5 in adulthood really shattered my confidence, and the lifts were crutches to my confidence. I haven’t touched lifts since. It really was a mental issue now that I look back at it. I wish I had been born one of those confident short guys that didn’t care haha. It seems like a crazy dream and poor judgement on my part in hindsight. If I end up doing tibia I will start a new thread, but like I said it’s not that important to me. Instead of buying a sports car or something etc I’d rather spend the money on that, especially if insurance covers some because of nail removal. But I’m not desperate for it like before, and if the opportunity doesn’t arise I’m fine like this. Ill update about nail removal when time comes god willing